The peace deal that ended South Sudan’s brutal civil war is at risk of collapse following the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, his party warned on Thursday.
The opposition SPLM-IO said government forces placed Machar under house arrest in Juba on Wednesday, accusing him of backing the White Army militia, which recently clashed with the military in Upper Nile State. The party denied the allegations, calling his detention an “abrogation” of the peace agreement.
The United Nations and the United States have urged President Salva Kiir’s government to release Machar, warning that South Sudan could slide back into widespread conflict. The UN mission in the country, UNMISS, said the situation posed a threat not just to South Sudan but to regional stability.
“The agreement has effectively collapsed, putting the prospect of peace and stability in serious jeopardy,” said Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, SPLM-IO’s deputy chair.
Tensions have been mounting as Kiir consolidates power ahead of long-delayed national elections. Analysts say he has been sidelining Machar’s allies and strengthening his position by bringing in Uganda’s military and appointing controversial businessman Benjamin Bol Mel as second vice president.
The UN has previously warned of rising ethnic violence, particularly in Nasir, where the latest clashes occurred. With the army now deployed around Machar’s residence in Juba, fears are growing that South Sudan may be on the brink of renewed civil war.
