South Sudan has detained Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and several military officials aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar, as confirmed by a vice presidential spokesperson. This incident raises concerns about the stability of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a brutal civil war, amidst ongoing tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir.
In South Sudan, authorities have detained the petroleum minister, Puot Kang Chol, along with several senior military officials connected to First Vice President Riek Machar, as reported by a spokesperson for the vice president. This development raises concerns regarding the stability of the 2018 peace agreement, which concluded a five-year civil war between Machar and President Salva Kiir, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives.
Despite the formal peace established by the 2018 agreement, the relationship between Machar and Kiir remains strained, with intermittent violence erupting among different communities. According to Puok Both Baluang, Machar’s spokesperson, the deputy head of the army was among those arrested, while other senior officials loyal to Machar were placed under house arrest.
Baluang emphasized that no reasons have been provided for the arrests of these officials. Furthermore, South Sudanese troops have been reported to be deployed around Machar’s residence; however, he was still able to travel to his office on Wednesday morning, indicating a complex and potentially volatile situation.
The recent detainment of Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and senior military officials in South Sudan may destabilize the fragile peace established in 2018, which ended a devastating civil war. Tensions between First Vice President Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir continue, as evidenced by this incident. The lack of transparency regarding the arrests further complicates the political landscape in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
