South Sudan is on the brink of another civil war after the country’s first Vice President Riek Machar was placed under arrest.
He is also to be investigated on charges of trying to stir up rebellion, according to the government.
On Friday, the government gave its first confirmation of his detention that sparked fears among world leaders of the possibility of a civil war reigniting once more.
Government spokesperson and information minister Michael Makuei said in a statement that “Machar and his anti-peace colleagues of the SPLM/A-IO (Machar’s party), who are under arrest will be investigated and brought to book accordingly.”
Makuei in the statement accused Machar of contacting his supporters and “agitating them to rebel against the Government with the aim of disrupting peace so that elections are not held and South Sudan goes back to war.”
Machar is a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir. Both leaders have played key roles in previous civil wars and have been under pressure to implement a peace deal signed in 2018.
Neighbouring Kenya has sent its former prime minister, Raila Odinga, to South Sudan to help defuse tensions after Machar’s arrest on Wednesday.
Odinga said on X he met with Kiir on Friday and was encouraged by the possibility of the conflict being resolved.
Earlier today, on an IGAD mission, I had a detailed and fruitful discussion with my brother, H.E President Salva Kiir, in Juba, South Sudan, regarding the political situation in the country. I am encouraged by the possibility of a resolution to the conflict. I will be briefing… pic.twitter.com/OfkPfo0rZ3
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) March 28, 2025
Machar’s party said in a statement the visit by Odinga was a positive diplomatic development.
Machar’s party said this week that his detention had effectively voided the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war between Kiir’s Dinka forces and Nuer fighters loyal to Machar.
“The Peace Agreement has not collapsed and shall not under any circumstances,” Makuei said in reaction.
Already Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany have closed embassies or cut back operations in South Sudan.
South Sudan’s unity government extended by another two years
Source: Africafeeds.com
