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Juba, South Sudan – The reported detention of South Sudan’s First Vice-President Riek Machar has raised concerns that the 2018 peace agreement, which aimed to resolve the nation’s protracted civil war, is on the verge of collapse, according to his political party.
Machar’s Detention and Allegations of Peace Deal Collapse
On Wednesday evening, a military convoy, accompanied by high-ranking security officials including the defense minister, reportedly entered Machar’s residence in Juba. Sources from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO) state that his security detail were disarmed during the operation.
The SPLM/IO further indicated that Machar was placed in detention along with his wife, Angelina Teny, who serves as the country’s interior minister.
SPLM/IO Deputy Leader’s Statement
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the deputy leader of SPLM/IO, asserted that “The apprehension and confinement of H.E Dr Riek Machar effectively dismantles the [peace] agreement.”
As of now, the government has not issued any official statement regarding Machar’s alleged house arrest.
President Kiir’s Assurance
In an address to religious leaders on Wednesday, President Salva Kiir stated his commitment to peace, saying “he will never return the country to war.”
UN Warnings of Renewed Conflict
The United Nations has expressed concerns that South Sudan is dangerously close to resuming civil war. This warning follows increasing tensions and conflict escalation between forces loyal to President Kiir and Vice-President Machar in recent weeks.
The two leaders had initially consented to a peace agreement in August 2018, hoping to bring an end to the civil war that resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths. However, over the past seven years, their relationship has deteriorated, marked by ethnic tensions and sporadic outbreaks of violence.
Peace Deal “Abrogated”
During a press conference on Thursday, Pierino stated that Machar’s detention had “abrogated” – or violated – the delicate peace accord.
“The chances for peace and stability in South Sudan are now in serious jeopardy,” he further remarked.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) echoed these concerns, stating that the nation’s leaders “stand on the precipice of descending into widespread conflict.”
Heightened Tensions in Juba
Anxiety remains elevated in Juba, with reports indicating a significant military presence surrounding Machar’s residence.
One Juba resident, speaking to AFP news agency, expressed apprehension stating, “There is a high likelihood of full-scale war, and it will be more destructive and more aggressive because of [the need] for revenge.”
Call for Calm and Diplomatic Efforts
Despite the tense situation, Pierino called upon SPLM/IO members and the general public to maintain composure as diplomatic initiatives continue in an attempt to resolve the crisis.
Reath Muoch Tang, chairman of the party’s foreign relations committee, confirmed Machar’s house arrest, noting that security officials initially attempted to remove him from the premises.
“An arrest warrant was presented to him under ambiguous charges,” Tang stated, condemning the action as a “clear infringement of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”
UNMISS Warning on “Lost Gains”
UNMISS cautioned that the world’s youngest nation risked losing the “hard-won achievements of the past seven years” if it reverted to “a state of war.”
“Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the verge of relapsing into widespread conflict,” the mission stated on Wednesday.
They further added that violations of the 2018 peace deal “will not only devastate South Sudan but also impact the entire region.”
International Response
Several international embassies have reacted to the escalating tensions. The British and US embassies have reduced their diplomatic staff and advised their citizens to depart South Sudan. The Norwegian and German embassies have temporarily suspended their operations in Juba.
The US has appealed to President Kiir to release his rival from reported confinement, urging both leaders to demonstrate commitment to peace.
“We urge President Kiir to undo this action & prevent further worsening of the situation,” the US Bureau of African Affairs posted on social media platform X.
Renewed Clashes in Upper Nile State
These rising tensions coincide with new outbreaks of fighting between forces loyal to the two leaders in Nasir, a town in the oil-rich Upper Nile State.