South Sudan’s opposition has stated that the overnight arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, a long-time rival of President Salva Kiir, has effectively invalidated their 2018 peace deal and risks plunging the country back into war.
A convoy of 20 heavily armed vehicles arrived at Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, late Wednesday and took him into custody, according to a statement from a member of his party. This marks a dramatic escalation in a conflict that has been escalating for weeks in the world’s youngest country.
The power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar, which has been under strain, now faces a serious threat of collapse, raising fears of a return to the civil war that killed approximately 400,000 people between 2013 and 2018.
Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, deputy chairman of Machar’s party, declared, “With the arrest and detention of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the R-ARCSS 2018 has been abrogated.” He added, “The prospect for peace and stability in South Sudan has now been put into serious jeopardy.”
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned on Thursday that the arrest could push the country to the brink of further conflict. UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom stated, “The country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict,” and noted that breaches of the 2018 peace deal “will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region.”
Despite the tension, Juba remained calm on Thursday morning, with businesses open and people on the streets, as reported by an AFP journalist. However, a heavy military presence surrounded Machar’s home, which is located just meters from President Kiir’s residence, including a tank.
Edmund Yakani, a civil society leader, expressed concern, saying that the population is deeply worried about what might unfold next.
