South Sudan defends detention of Machar allies
First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar.
South Sudan's government has defended the controversial detention of allies of First Vice President Riek Machar, warning that they were involved in skirmishes in Upper Nile State.
Government spokesperson Michael Makuei confirmed the arrests, saying the officials had been detained for "conflict with the law". In a statement on Wednesday, he said the detained officials, including a senior military commander and a government minister, had played a role in arming the White Army, a militia operating in Upper Nile state and linked to Machar's party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Government forces were deployed at Machar's home on Tuesday, imposing a form of house arrest as other officials were detained. Makuei said the problem began on February 28 when the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNOU), which is split between President Salva Kiir, Machar and various other factions that previously fought a war, met to discuss skirmishes.
“It is worth noting that the leadership of the SPLM/A-IO in the meeting had distanced itself from the White Army, but nevertheless promised to talk to the White Army which they did but instead gave them the greenlight to proceed and attack the garrison,” he said, referring to a meeting between President Kiir and coalition partners to resolve the cause of skirmishes.
“In fact, these are SPLM/A-IO forces and not the White army as claimed.”
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Tensions in South Sudan had raised concerns among diplomats representing the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), the regional body that helped broker a peace deal in Juba and formed a coalition government in 2018.
Uncertainty emerged on Tuesday after troops were deployed at a house belonging to Machar. This came hours after several of his allies were arrested in connection with clashes in Upper Nile state.
Envoys accredited to South Sudan called for an immediate ceasefire following days of armed clashes in Upper Nile State between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army, a local armed youth group believed to be linked to Dr Riek Machar.
In a joint statement addressed to South Sudan's coalition government, Igad diplomats expressed concern that ongoing fighting in Nasir County was undermining the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
“We are particularly alarmed by the recent reports of escalating tensions and armed clashes in Nasir County, which threaten the hard-won gains achieved in the implementation of the peace accord and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
“We call upon the parties and their affiliate groups to immediately ceasefire and exercise maximum restraint. We emphasise the paramount importance of upholding the ceasefire and adhering to the provisions of the revitalised peace agreement. We welcome the recent meeting of the presidency and its outcomes and further encourage continuous dialogue and consultations within the framework of the peace accord,” the diplomats stated.
Cracks have appeared in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNoU) after Dr Machar was effectively placed under house arrest, with his party, SPLM-IO, warning of imminent war if he is not released.
In a press statement, the SPLM-IO said that Lt-Gen Gabriel Doup Lam, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of South Sudan (SSPDF), had been arrested on the orders of his boss, Gen Paul Nang, the Chief of Defence Forces of the SSPDF.
“This action violates the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and cripples the Joint Defence Board, a vital institution of the Agreement responsible for the command and control of all forces. This act puts the entire agreement at risk.
“We are also gravely concerned about the heavy deployment of SSPDF around the residence of HE Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the First Vice President and Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO,” said acting spokesperson Buok Buoth.
The SPLM-IO added that Petroleum Minister Puot Kang had been arrested.
On Tuesday evening, the SPLM-IO expressed alarm at the heavy deployment of SSPDF forces around the residence of Dr Riek Machar, raising concerns about the fragile state of the peace agreement.
The White Army, a militia group composed mainly of armed Nuer youths, has claimed control of the strategic town of Nasir in Upper Nile State after heavy fighting with government forces.
On Wednesday evening, Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a White Army leader in Nasir, told Radio Tamazuj that his forces had successfully pushed government troops out of the town.
The SSPDF has yet to issue an official statement on the situation. However, in a brief message posted on his official Facebook page, SSPDF spokesperson Maj-Gen Lul Ruai Koang said that the army was "not in a position to provide a media briefing on the security situation in Nasir and the surrounding areas".
Nasir, a strategic town near the Ethiopian border, has long been a flashpoint. The White Army, known for its involvement in ethnic violence, has played a significant role in past conflicts, often opposing government forces.
The recent fighting in Upper Nile has raised fears of escalating violence, as the state has been unstable since 2013. Tensions flared after the government announced plans to replace long-standing troops with newly deployed forces.
Local armed youth expressed concern that the new troops might target civilians or launch a disarmament campaign. In response, community leaders have rejected the government's deployment and called for a unified force instead.
Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has urged all parties to work towards de-escalation, warning that further delays could lead to an intensification of the conflict.
“The military incidents in parts of the country are deeply concerning,” Yakani said. “We urge the White Army leaders in Nasir to embrace peace and refrain from violence. Dialogue should be used to address grievances related to the presence of the SSPDF in Nasir.”
As tensions rise, the future of the Revitalised Peace Agreement remains uncertain, with growing fears that continued clashes could derail South Sudan’s fragile peace process.
