A regional bloc of East African nations has called on South Sudan’s government to release recently detained officials and ease security restrictions, warning that escalating political tensions could undermine the country’s fragile peace.
The 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan’s five-year civil war—during which nearly 400,000 people were killed—has remained fragile, with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar locked in a tense power struggle.
Last week, the arrest of key figures allied to Machar, including a deputy military chief and two ministers, has stoked fears of renewed violence. The situation has been further inflamed by deadly clashes near the northern town of Nasir, raising concerns over the stability of the power-sharing government.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an eight-nation regional bloc, convened an emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday, urging South Sudan’s leadership to de-escalate the crisis.
“The government is urged to immediately release detained officials unless credible evidence justifies legal proceedings that adhere to due process,” IGAD’s executive secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said in a report. The bloc also called for a return to “normal security arrangements.”
Government spokesperson Michael Makuei, who had previously stated that the detained officials were “in conflict with the law,” did not respond to requests for comment.
Authorities have accused Machar’s loyalists of working with the White Army—a Nuer-based militia—to attack a military garrison near Nasir on March 4. Machar’s party has denied any involvement.
While one detained minister and eight lower-ranking officials have been released, 20 others remain in custody, according to Machar’s spokesperson. Security forces were also deployed around Machar’s residence last week, though he has been allowed to continue his official duties.
The crisis deepened further on Wednesday when another lawmaker aligned with Machar was arrested on his way to parliament.
IGAD and other regional stakeholders continue to push for de-escalation, warning that any further deterioration could unravel years of fragile peace efforts.
