East African Bloc Calls for Release of Arrested Officials in South Sudan

East African nations have urged South Sudan to release detained officials and lift security restrictions following tensions from recent arrests. Despite a peace agreement in 2018, relations between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar are strained, jeopardizing stability in the region. The calls from IGAD aim to prevent conflict by addressing these issues promptly.

On Wednesday, a coalition of East African nations called for the South Sudanese government to release detained officials and abolish security restrictions aimed at preventing escalating factional tensions that could lead to renewed conflict. The government has been in a formal peace state since the 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war, yet relations between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar remain fraught.

Recent arrests in Juba, including that of a deputy military chief and two ministers aligned with Machar, have raised concerns about the stability of the peace agreement. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a virtual meeting of heads of state to address the increased tensions. The organization urged the South Sudanese government to release detained officials unless credible evidence exists that justifies legal proceedings.

Additionally, IGAD called for the reinstatement of standard security protocols. South Sudan’s government spokesman, Michael Makuei, previously stated that some officials were arrested for being “in conflict with the law”; however, he did not respond to media inquiries regarding the matter. The government has alleged that Machar’s supporters collaborated with the White Army militia to attack a military base in Nasir on March 4, leading to clashes.

Machar’s political faction denied these claims, asserting that while one of the detained ministers and eight others were subsequently released, twenty additional officials remain incarcerated. Although security forces have been deployed around Machar’s home, he is reportedly still able to conduct official duties. As tensions mount, Machar’s spokesperson indicated further arrests of officials allied with the vice-president continue to occur, unsettling the already fragile peace.

In summary, the East African bloc’s intervention highlights the urgent need for South Sudan to address mounting political tensions following the arrests of key officials. The call for their release and restoration of security measures reflects concerns about stability within the nation. As relationships between Kiir and Machar remain strained, the situation warrants close monitoring to ensure that efforts to maintain peace and security in South Sudan remain effective.

Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za