South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, in an address, called on the people to remain calm, emphasizing that they will not return to war again.
In his speech, which came three days after security incidents in the capital Juba and Nasir city in Upper Nile, he said the government will address this crisis for the sake of peace. He noted that they held a meeting with opposition leader Machar, who provided guarantees to intervene, adding, “but his forces attacked the military barracks in Nasir.”
South Sudan has been experiencing increasing tensions in recent months due to ongoing disagreements between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his deputy Riek Machar over power-sharing, under a peace agreement revitalized years ago but facing significant obstacles, including mutual accusations of violating its terms.
In a new development threatening to inflame the situation, Riek Machar’s office told “Al-Sharq” on Thursday that authorities in Juba arrested the minister responsible for peace efforts in the country, Stephen Par Kuol, who is one of the politicians involved in the 2018 “peace agreement” negotiations.
Later, Puok Both Baluang, Riek Machar’s spokesperson, stated on X that “Stephen Par Kuol was released at 5 am on Friday after being illegally detained by the National Security Service along with three of his office staff on Thursday.”
Security forces had arrested Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief Gabriel Duop Lam on Wednesday, while senior military officials allied with Machar were placed under house arrest, threatening the peace agreement that ended a 5-year civil war.
Baluang told Reuters that the oil minister and deputy army chief were still detained as of Friday
