Machar Arrested following Uganda's intervention

The fragile peace process in South Sudan is in jeopardy following the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, who plays a crucial role in the country's political landscape as a primary opposition leader and a signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. This incident has sparked concerns about the potential return to civil conflict.

Reath Muoch Tang, who leads the foreign relations for Machar’s SPLM/A-IO party, reported a dramatic event where "20 heavily armed vehicles" raided Machar's home in Juba late on a Wednesday night.

He described the raid as unconstitutional, carried out by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of National Security. During this raid, Machar's bodyguards were disarmed, and he was presented with an arrest warrant on unclear charges. Efforts are reportedly underway to relocate him.

This arrest highlights a significant escalation in tensions, which had been building over several weeks due to the deteriorating cooperation between President Salva Kiir and Machar. The deteriorating trust threatens to dismantle the peace agreement that ended a five-year-long brutal civil war (2013-2018) that resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has urgently called for restraint and a recommitment to the peace process, stressing the agreement's role as the sole viable solution to the disputes.

Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, emphasized the critical choice facing the nation's leaders: to either slide back into widespread conflict or move forward towards peace, recovery, and democracy.

In light of the growing violence, which includes recent clashes in Rejaf and Wunaliet near Juba, and reported heavy military activity in Upper Nile State, UNMISS and various regional bodies such as the African Union, IGAD, RJMEC, and the Troika have intensified their diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

Haysom has encouraged both Kiir and Machar to demonstrate leadership by meeting to resolve their differences and making a joint public commitment to peace, underscoring that prioritizing the welfare of their people could prevent the devastating impacts of renewed conflict.

Adding to the complexity, Machar has accused Uganda of meddling in South Sudan’s affairs, which has further strained relations as Uganda insists its military presence in the region is meant to ensure stability. The situation remains tense both domestically and internationally, highlighting the fragile state of peace and the critical need for effective leadership and international cooperation to sustain it.