South Sudanese security forces placed First Vice President and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar under house arrest in Juba on Wednesday night amid escalating political tensions, raising fears of a return to civil war.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 agreement ended a five-year conflict between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar, which killed nearly 400,000 people. However, relations between the two leaders, who have dominated South Sudan’s politics for decades, remain strained.
The house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar is widely seen as jeopardizing the peace agreement.
Reath Muoch Tang, Acting Chairperson of the SPLM-IO’s Committee on Foreign Relations, told Radio Tamazuj that a letter announcing Machar’s house arrest was delivered by top security officials, including Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok.
“The security forces came and chased everyone away from the compound, and the minister of defence left, but many security vehicles remained in the compound,” Reath said.
“Technically, Dr. Machar is under house arrest, but the security officials initially tried to take him away,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pal Mai Deng, the SPLM-IO’s official spokesperson, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the First Vice President had been placed under house arrest.
“With grave concern, I can confirm that the First Vice President and the leader of the SPLM/A-IO, Dr. Riek Machar, has been placed under house arrest. This is an unfortunate move, and this violates the revitalized peace agreement,” Pal said.
Pal, who also serves as Minister of Water and Irrigation under the power-sharing deal, warned that the decision by security forces and President Salva Kiir undermines progress made under the 2018 peace agreement.
He said Dr. Machar had returned to Juba under pressure from regional and international leaders to promote peace and stability in South Sudan. He accused the international community of failing to pressure President Kiir to fully implement the 2018 peace deal.
“So the international community has the obligation to make sure that the physical security of Dr. Riek is very important. And any action that will compromise his physical security will be an obstacle to future national healing and reconciliation in South Sudan,” he said.
“The information given to Dr. Machar is that he must be placed under house arrest. However, he was informed again later by the same security officials that he would be moved from the house,” he concluded.
Government Spokesperson Michael Makuei could not immediately be reached for comment.
Security forces were deployed around Machar’s residence in early March, though he has still been able to travel to his office.
In response to clashes in northeastern Upper Nile State since late February, President Kiir’s government has arrested several officials from Machar’s party, including the petroleum minister and the army’s deputy chief.