South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, has confirmed the arrests of Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol over alleged legal violations.
General Lam, who also serves as acting Chief of Staff for the SPLA-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition), was arrested by military personnel on Tuesday. Minister Chuol was arrested on Wednesday morning alongside his bodyguards and family members.
Several other senior SPLA-IO military figures have also been detained, including Generals Koang Gatkuoth Kerjiok, Wesley Welebe, and Ashhab Khamis Fahal.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions following the capture of a South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) base in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, by the White Army, a local armed youth group. The government alleges the White Army is allied to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLA-IO, a claim the opposition denies.
Speaking at a press conference in Juba on Wednesday, Mr. Makuei stated that the detentions were due to the individuals being “in conflict with the law.”
“They were arrested because they were in conflict with the law. There is no joke about that. What we need is security. If anybody is arrested, it is for a reason,” he said.
Mr. Makuei, a senior member of President Salva Kiir’s SPLM party, clarified that the phrase “in conflict with the law” refers to alleged violations of legal provisions.
“If you are in conflict with the law, it means you are accused of violating its provisions. Once you are in violation, you are automatically in conflict with the law and subject to arrest and court proceedings,” he added.
The minister also addressed the situation in Nasir County, confirming that the White Army had taken control of the area. He stated that SPLA-IO commanders in Juba had contacted the SSPDF commander in Nasir, urging him to surrender for the safety of himself and his troops.
Mr. Makuei emphasized that the deployment of forces around Juba was aimed at ensuring the security of citizens.
President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar are attempting to implement a peace deal signed in 2018, aimed at ending years of civil war. However, the agreement has faced repeated delays and challenges, particularly in unifying armed groups to form a national army.