South Sudan’s Fragile Peace Deal Threatened as Army Targets Vice President’s Allies

South Sudanese soldiers surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s residence in Juba on Wednesday, arresting several of his key allies.

The detentions followed intense clashes in Upper Nile State, where the White Army militia, a group linked to Machar’s ethnic Nuer community, overran a government army base.

These developments have heightened fears of renewed conflict in the country, which is still recovering from a five-year civil war that ended in 2018. Among those arrested were Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, both close associates of Machar.

The government has not provided reasons for the arrests, but Lam is accused of collaborating with the White Army rebels. The militia recently seized Nasir town in Upper Nile State, escalating tensions between government forces and local armed groups.

Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, confirmed the arrests and criticized the deployment of troops around Machar’s home as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement.

The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) ended a civil war that killed over 400,000 people and displaced millions. However, its implementation has been slow and fraught with mistrust.

South Sudan’s Fragile Peace at Risk Amid Political Tensions

Key provisions, such as integrating rival forces into a unified military and holding elections, remain unfulfilled. Elections initially scheduled for 2024 were postponed by two years due to insufficient funding.

Water Minister Pal Mai Deng warned that these arrests jeopardize the fragile peace deal. “This act puts the entire agreement at risk,” he stated. Western diplomats have also urged South Sudanese leaders to de-escalate tensions to avoid further violence.

Ter Manyang Gatwich, Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, called for the immediate release of those detained to prevent what he described as a “full-scale war.” The situation underscores South Sudan‘s ongoing political instability and ethnic divisions.

The White Army militia claims to protect Nuer communities from government forces accused of abuses. Meanwhile, civilians in Upper Nile State face displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions due to the renewed violence.

As international observers monitor these developments, questions remain about South Sudan’s leaders’ ability to uphold their commitments under R-ARCSS. There are concerns about whether they will follow through on their promises or if the country will slide back into devastating conflict.