In South Sudan, key allies of First Vice President Riek Machar have been arrested, and military forces are encircling his residence in Juba. Arrests include Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. These developments pose a serious threat to the 2018 peace agreement with President Salva Kiir, amid rising tensions and unrest.
In South Sudan, the government has detained key allies of First Vice President Riek Machar as military forces encircle his residence in Juba. Among those arrested are General Gabriel Duop Lam, the deputy army chief, and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, arrested alongside his family and bodyguards. These developments occur amid escalating political tensions that threaten the 2018 peace agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir.
No official justification has been provided for these arrests, which coincide with an assault by an armed group affiliated with Machar on an army base in the Upper Nile state. Machar has previously indicated that the recent dismissal of several associates from government positions jeopardizes the fragile peace deal established in 2018, which concluded a brutal civil war.
Pal Mai Deng, Water Minister and spokesperson for Machar’s SPLM-IO party, stated that the arrest of General Lam “puts the entire peace agreement at risk.” Deng criticized the actions as violations of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and a threat to the Joint Defence Board’s authority, vital for maintaining peace. Concerns over substantial military presence around Machar’s home were also expressed.
Further detailing the situation, spokesperson Puok Both Baluang indicated that several other senior military personnel aligned with Machar are under house arrest, confirming a lack of explanation regarding these detentions. Major-General Lul Ruai Koang, South Sudan army spokesperson, declined to comment on the recent arrests or military deployments.
The civil war, which ignited in December 2013 following Machar’s dismissal by President Kiir, has resulted in significant displacement and humanitarian crises across the nation. Current tensions are believed to have arisen from unrest in Upper Nile, with allegations that Lam and his troops are collaborating with the White Army rebels, primarily composed of the Nuer ethnic group. Increased clashes reported by the United Nations indicate a serious escalation of violence.
Given the historical context, Ter Manyang Gatwich, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, called for the immediate release of the detained officials to prevent further violence and the potential onset of a full-scale war in South Sudan.
The recent arrests of Riek Machar’s allies amidst military encirclement of his residence highlight significant political tensions that jeopardize the 2018 peace agreement in South Sudan. With no clear rationale provided for these actions, there are rising fears of renewed conflict. Calls for the release of detained officials emphasize the need for diplomacy to avert escalating violence in the region.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
