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South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar Reportedly Under House Arrest
Juba, South Sudan – Political tensions are escalating in South Sudan as reports indicate First Vice-President Riek Machar, a prominent figure and long-time political rival of President Salva Kiir, has been placed under house arrest. Sources within Machar’s party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO), confirmed the development, signaling a potential crisis in the fragile nation.
Details of Machar’s Apparent Detention
According to the SPLM/IO, the incident unfolded on Wednesday when a heavily armed convoy, which included high-ranking security personnel and the defense minister, entered Machar’s Juba residence. His personal security detail was subsequently disarmed, effectively restricting his movement.
“It appears Dr. Machar is currently confined to his residence, constituting a form of house arrest,” stated Reath Muoch Tang, chairman of the SPLM/IO’s foreign relations committee. “Initially, security agents attempted to remove him from the premises.”
As of now, the South Sudanese government has not issued any official statement regarding the situation.
Concerns Over Renewed Civil Conflict
The United Nations has recently cautioned that South Sudan risks sliding back into civil war. This warning comes amidst increasing friction between President Kiir and First Vice-President Machar, a rivalry that has intensified in recent weeks.
Kiir and Machar formed a unity government following a peace agreement in August 2018, which was intended to end a brutal five-year civil conflict that resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths.
However, the relationship between the two leaders has deteriorated over the past seven years, marked by persistent ethnic divisions and intermittent outbreaks of violence.
Wife and Interior Minister Also Reportedly Detained
The SPLM/IO further reported that Angelina Teny, Machar’s wife and the nation’s Interior Minister, was also detained alongside him.
Mr. Tang stated that “an arrest warrant was presented to him based on unclear accusations,” describing the action as a “clear breach of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”
“The apprehension of the First Vice-President without proper legal procedures undermines the principles of law and order and jeopardizes the stability of the country,” he added.
International Condemnation and Diplomatic Response
Following reports of Machar’s detention, the UN mission in South Sudan expressed concern that the world’s youngest nation could lose the “hard-won achievements of the past seven years” and relapse into “a state of conflict.”
“The leaders of the nation are currently on the verge of plunging the country back into widespread conflict,” the UN mission declared in a statement released on Wednesday.
The mission emphasized that violations of the 2018 peace accord “will not only devastate South Sudan but will also impact the entire region.”
Embassies Reduce Presence Amid Rising Tensions
Several international embassies have reacted to the escalating situation:
- The British and US embassies have reduced their diplomatic personnel and advised their citizens to depart South Sudan.
- The Norwegian and German embassies have temporarily suspended their operations in Juba.
Renewed Clashes Add to Instability
These heightened tensions coincide with renewed confrontations between forces loyal to Kiir and Machar in Nasir, a town situated in the oil-rich Upper Nile State in northern South Sudan. This resurgence of violence further exacerbates the already precarious situation in the country.