South Sudan: Arrests of Officials Signal Danger to Political Stability

Recent arrests in South Sudan, including those of petroleum minister Puot Kang Chol and Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam, indicate rising political tensions amid a fragile power-sharing agreement. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding potential destabilization and further violence in the country. President Kiir asserts that South Sudan will not revert to war, despite the ongoing challenges.

In South Sudan, significant arrests have occurred, targeting key officials, including petroleum minister Puot Kang Chol and a lieutenant general supportive of Vice President Riek Machar. The ministry’s press secretary confirmed that the minister was detained at his residence in Juba, along with family members and bodyguards. This operation was conducted by the National Security Service personnel.

This crackdown coincided with the arrest of Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam by troops from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), which supports President Salva Kiir. Following the general’s detention, SSPDF outlined accusations of his collusion with ethnic Nuer rebels, posing a threat to the country’s stability.

Machar’s spokesperson has articulated that the arrest breaches the 2018 power-sharing agreement, which was intended to resolve the civil war that erupted in 2013 after Machar was dismissed by Kiir. Concerns have escalated regarding the military’s heavy presence around Machar’s residence, indicative of potential undermining of the existing political framework.

Ongoing violence in Upper Nile state is seen as a possible context for the arrests, with the UN noting heightened conflicts involving armed groups and the army. The overall situation remains precarious, as the country grapples with the ramifications of a civil war resulting in immense casualties and displacement since 2013. Despite promises from President Kiir to avoid returning to war, South Sudan’s political landscape continues to be fragile and uncertain.

The recent arrests of senior South Sudanese officials reflect escalating tensions within the nation’s power-sharing framework, raising concerns over political stability. The actions taken by the SSPDF against Lieutenant General Lam and Minister Kang Chol highlight the fragile state of peace established in 2018, as ongoing conflicts threaten to destabilize the already precarious situation in the country. Continued vigilance and diplomacy are required to prevent a resurgence of violence in South Sudan.

Original Source: www.dw.com