South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in the capital city of Juba on Wednesday night, sparking concerns over the country’s fragile peace.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called for restraint from all parties involved. “Following reports tonight of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, UNMISS calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” said Nicholas Haysom, the UN’s special representative to South Sudan.
Haysom warned that unilateral actions could jeopardize the hard-won gains achieved since the 2018 peace agreement that ended years of civil war. “This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region,” he cautioned.
The situation escalated when more than 20 heavily armed vehicles reportedly entered Machar’s residence, disarming his bodyguards and delivering an arrest warrant. Reath Muoch Tang, acting chairperson of the National Committee on Foreign Relations for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), condemned the arrest as a violation of the peace agreement. “His arrest is a blatant violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” Tang stated.
Amid rising tensions, clashes have been reported between government forces and SPLM/A-IO near Juba. The UN has urged President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar to lead efforts in de-escalating the situation. “We encourage the president and first vice president to resolve differences and reassure all South Sudanese of their shared commitment to peace,” Haysom emphasized.
The UN also highlighted a volatile situation in Upper Nile State, with reports of further mobilization of armed forces and aerial bombardment of civilian areas. Intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a peaceful solution.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but was soon plunged into a brutal civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives. The 2018 peace agreement brought hope for stability, but relations between Kiir and Machar remain strained. The latest developments have unsettled citizens and raised international concern over the potential return to widespread conflict.
