Authorities in South Sudan have arrested several close associates of First Vice President Riek Machar, intensifying political turmoil in the country. Among those detained are Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, both senior figures within Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) party.
The arrests follow an attack on a military base in Upper Nile state by a militia group linked to Machar. While officials have not explained the detentions, Machar’s party has strongly denounced the move, warning that it threatens to unravel the 2018 peace agreement that brought an end to South Sudan’s devastating civil war.
In a further escalation, heavily armed soldiers have surrounded Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba. SPLM-IO representatives have condemned the security crackdown, calling it a violation of the peace accord and a direct attempt to weaken Machar’s political influence. They also warned that the government’s actions risk igniting fresh conflict.
Meanwhile, the South Sudanese military has accused General Lam and his forces of working with the White Army, an ethnic militia notorious for its involvement in previous conflicts. The accusation has added to the growing tensions, raising fears of further instability.
With political uncertainty deepening, calls are growing for the immediate release of the detained officials. Regional and international mediators have urged restraint, warning that the fragile nation cannot afford another descent into violence.
