South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has reportedly been placed under house arrest following an armed operation by security forces. His party claims the move undermines constitutional rights and threatens national stability. The UN warns of a potential resurgence of conflict in the nation, previously marred by a brutal civil war.
Tensions Rise in South Sudan as VP Machar Placed Under House Arrest
Tensions Rise in South Sudan as VP Machar Placed Under House Arrest
First Vice-President Riek Machar finds himself under house arrest amid escalating political strife, raising concerns of a possible return to civil war.
South Sudan's political landscape is shaking once again as the First Vice-President, Riek Machar, is reported to be under house arrest, according to his party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO). This development follows a heavy-handed action by security forces, which saw defense minister-led convoys disarm Machar's bodyguards at his residence in Juba.
Reath Muoch Tang, the party's foreign relations chairman, confirmed that Machar remains confined to his home, stating, "Technically, Dr Machar is under house arrest," capturing the high tension surrounding the incident. The motive for the arrest remain unclear, as the government has refrained from making any public comments.
The United Nations has escalated its warnings about the potential regression of South Sudan into civil war, an outcome linked to the deteriorating relations between Machar and President Salva Kiir. The duo had earlier agreed to end a brutal civil conflict in August 2018 which claimed nearly 400,000 lives, yet tensions have continued to rise due to ethnic divisions and sporadic outbreaks of violence.
According to the SPLM/IO, Machar’s detention extends to his wife, Angelina Teny, who also serves as interior minister. Tang condemned the arrest as a “blatant violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement” and emphasized that undermining the first vice-president disrupts legal protocols, posing a serious threat to national stability.
The UN mission in South Sudan warned that failure to uphold the 2018 peace agreement could have devastating effects, not only for Sudan but for the entire region. The diplomatic community is responding to this crisis, with both the British and US embassies reducing their staff and urging their citizens to exit, while Norwegian and German operations have closed in Juba.
These recent developments coincide with increased clashes between Machar and Kiir's armed forces in the northern town of Nasir, located in the resource-rich Upper Nile State. With the country standing on a precipice, the situation remains precarious as both local and international communities await the unfolding implications of this alarming escalation.
