South Sudan's First Vice President Machar Under House Arrest Amid UN Appeals for Calm

Juba, March 27 (NationPress) Riek Machar, the First Vice President of South Sudan, has been put under house arrest in the capital city, Juba, as the United Nations mission in the region urged all parties to exercise caution.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Nicholas Haysom, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General to South Sudan and head of UNMISS, said, "Following reports of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, we call on all involved to show restraint and adhere to the Revitalised Peace Agreement."

Haysom warned that the unilateral changes by various parties to this agreement threaten the significant achievements made over the past seven years, potentially plunging the country back into conflict.

"Such a scenario would not only devastate South Sudan but could also have repercussions across the entire region," he cautioned in the statement issued on Wednesday night.

He urged all parties to halt hostilities immediately and engage in productive dialogue that prioritizes the welfare of their citizens at this critical juncture.

"Currently, the nation's leaders are at a crossroads between descending into widespread conflict or advancing towards peace, recovery, and a democratic future, in line with the consensus reached in 2018 when they signed the Revitalized Peace Agreement," he stated.

Reath Muoch Tang, acting chairperson of the National Committee on Foreign Relations for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), denounced the arrest as a breach of the 2018 peace agreement that established the unity government.

Tang reported that the defense minister and chief of national security were present when an arrest warrant was delivered to Machar, accompanied by over 20 heavily armed vehicles that forcibly entered his home.

"His bodyguards were disarmed, and he received an arrest warrant under unclear circumstances. Efforts are currently being made to transfer him," Tang noted in a statement on Wednesday night.

He characterized the arrest as a "blatant" violation of the constitution and the Revitalised Peace Agreement, as no legal processes, such as revoking his immunity, were adhered to.

Earlier on Wednesday, UNMISS released another statement calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and urgent dialogue among the nation's leaders to de-escalate tensions and restore peace, as reported by Xinhua.

In the preceding 24 hours, clashes were reported between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) near Juba, according to the UN.

"We encourage the president and first vice president to spearhead efforts to avert further military clashes and restore peace by convening to address their differences and issuing a joint public statement reassuring all South Sudanese of their mutual commitment to peace," Haysom stated.

The UN mission indicated that the situation in Upper Nile State remains unstable, with reports of increased mobilization of armed forces and aerial bombardments targeting civilian areas, allegedly using devices containing highly flammable liquids that exacerbate explosions, leading to significant casualties and severe injuries.

UNMISS added that extensive diplomatic initiatives are ongoing to facilitate a peaceful resolution.

South Sudan, which achieved independence in 2011, inked a peace agreement in 2018 that concluded a civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar, during which nearly 400,000 lives were lost.

Relations between Kiir and Machar, who have been prominent figures in South Sudan's political landscape for years, remain tense. The recent clashes and escalating political strife between the two leaders have alarmed both citizens and the international community.