On Wednesday, forces affiliated with South Sudan’s Ministry of Defense and National Security stormed the residence of First Vice President Riek Machar in the capital, Juba, and detained him, according to his party. This move has prompted warnings from the United Nations about the risk of a new civil war in the country.
In a statement published on Facebook, Machar’s party condemned what it described as “unconstitutional actions,” noting that “more than 20 heavily armed vehicles” participated in the raid. The party added that Machar’s personal guards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was issued against him “based on vague charges.”
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a strong warning, stating that the country stands “on the brink of war.” Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, emphasized that leaders face a critical choice “between descending into widespread conflict or advancing toward peace, recovery, and democracy.” He urged both sides to adhere to the spirit of the “2018 peace agreement signed between Kiir and Machar” and stressed the importance of committing to de-escalation.
These developments come amid weeks of clashes between federal forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with Vice President Riek Machar, despite a political agreement that ended a bloody civil war between the two sides.
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has not experienced lasting stability. The country has been plagued by successive waves of violence, the most severe occurring between 2013 and 2018, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 400,000 people and the displacement of over four million. Although a peace agreement was signed, it remains fragile to this day.
(France24/AFP)
