Arrests of South Sudanese Officials Heighten Concerns for Peace Stability

South Sudan’s Minister of Peacebuilding, Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, was arrested amid a series of detentions of officials allied with First Vice President Riek Machar. This raises concerns about the stability of the nation’s fragile peace agreement. Ongoing clashes in Upper Nile State highlight the tensions, prompting calls from regional and Western leaders for peaceful dialogue.

On Thursday, South Sudan’s Minister of Peacebuilding, Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, became the latest official to be arrested in a campaign against allies of First Vice President Riek Machar. This arrest, reported by Machar’s press secretary Puok Both Baluang via Facebook, highlights increasing political tensions within the country.

Kuol’s detention follows the recent arrests of the oil minister and deputy head of the army—both senior members of Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) party. These incidents have raised significant concerns regarding the stability of the peace agreement established between President Salva Kiir and Machar following the civil war.

South Sudan, recognized as the youngest country in the world, concluded a five-year civil war in 2018 through a power-sharing agreement between the two leaders. However, current tensions threaten to undermine the unity government, mainly due to violent encounters in Upper Nile State involving clashes between government forces and rebel groups aligned with Machar.

The United Nations has issued warnings of escalating violence in Upper Nile State, emphasizing the use of heavy weaponry and a rising death toll. Concurrently, regional nations and Western embassies voiced concerns, emphasizing the urgency of ceasing hostilities.

In a joint statement, representatives from the United States, Britain, and the European Union called for the leadership in Juba to prioritize the South Sudanese populace and engage in peaceful dialogue. Furthermore, analysts have criticized President Kiir’s recent political maneuvers as attempts to solidify his power while marginalizing Machar, particularly his decision to dismiss two vice presidents and the governor of Western Equatoria State without consulting other parties.

The recent arrest of Stephen Par Kuol, alongside other detentions of key figures affiliated with Riek Machar, underscores a critical juncture in South Sudan’s political landscape. These developments may jeopardize the nation’s delicate peace agreement established in 2018, prompting calls for peaceful resolution and dialogue among leadership. As the situation in Upper Nile State escalates, the necessity for collective action to ensure stability becomes increasingly apparent.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com