South Sudanese security forces have released Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol, a key ally of First Vice President Riek Machar, after his arrest escalated political tensions, Machar’s spokesman said Friday.
Kuol was detained on Thursday alongside three staff members by the National Security Service but was freed early Friday morning, according to Puok Both Baluang, Machar’s spokesman. However, the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the military, also close to Machar, remain in custody.
The arrests, which took place between Tuesday and Thursday, have deepened concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace deal that ended the country’s brutal civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar.
Growing Political Tensions
Security forces have also been deployed around Machar’s residence, though he has been able to continue work, Baluang said. The government has not commented on the detentions, but Information Minister Michael Makuei accused Machar’s forces of collaborating with the White Army militia to attack a military base near the northern town of Nasir.
The White Army, an irregular militia drawn mostly from Machar’s Nuer ethnic group, fought alongside his forces during the 2013-2018 war. Clashes between the militia and national forces in Nasir in recent weeks have reignited fears of wider conflict.
Machar’s party has denied involvement in the fighting.
International Calls for Restraint
On Thursday, officials from IGAD, the United Nations, the African Union, and the peace-monitoring body RJMEC met with Machar, urging all parties to de-escalate tensions in Upper Nile State.
South Sudan has formally been at peace since 2018, but violence between rival factions and ethnic groups continues to threaten stability.
