South Sudanese forces have arrested a high-ranking military official aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar and deployed troops around his residence, raising fears over the stability of the 2018 peace deal that ended a brutal civil war, Machar’s spokesperson said.
Despite the agreement formally ending the five-year conflict between Machar and President Salva Kiir—which left hundreds of thousands dead—sporadic violence continues across the country.
On Tuesday, General Paul Nang, the head of South Sudan’s defence forces, ordered the arrest of his deputy, Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam, while security forces surrounded Machar’s residence, according to a statement from Machar’s spokesperson, Pal Mai Deng.
“This action violates the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and cripples the Joint Defence Board, which oversees the command and control of all forces,” Deng said. “These moves put the entire peace agreement at risk.”
Deng also condemned the “heavy deployment” of South Sudanese army troops (SSPDF) near Machar’s home, warning that such actions “erode confidence and trust among the parties.” However, he did not specify the reason for Lam’s arrest.
South Sudanese army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang declined to comment on the developments, while Information Minister Michael Makuei has yet to respond to requests for comment.
South Sudan’s civil war erupted in December 2013 after Kiir dismissed Machar as vice president, triggering a conflict that killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced over 2.5 million. The fighting devastated the oil-rich but impoverished nation, worsening food insecurity for nearly half of its 11 million citizens.
In July 2016, government and opposition forces clashed in the capital for five days, exchanging fire with anti-aircraft guns, attack helicopters, and tanks. Both Kiir and Machar denied responsibility for the outbreak of violence even as the fighting raged on.
Now, with fresh tensions emerging, fears are growing that the fragile peace deal could unravel once again.
