South Sudan defends detention of Riek Machar allies

JUBA, South Sudan

South Sudan government has defended the controversial detention of allies of First Vice President Riek Machar, warning that they had a hand in skirmishes in Upper Nile State.

Government spokesperson, Michael Makuei, confirmed the arrests, saying the officials had been detained due to “conflict with the law.”

In a statement on Wednesday, he said the detained officials, including a senior military commander and a government minister, had played a role in arming the White Army, a militia that operates in Upper Nile State and is linked to Machar’s party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Government forces had been deployed to Machar’s house on Tuesday, imposing a form of house arrest as other officials were detained. 

Mr Makuei said the problem began on February 28, when the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNoU), which includes President Salva Kiir, Dr Machar and various other factions that had fought in the civil war, met to discuss skirmishes.

“It is worth noting that the leadership of the SPLM/A-IO, in the meeting had distanced itself from the White Army, [they] nevertheless promised to talk to the White Army, which they did, but instead gave them the green light to proceed and attack the garrison.” He said, referring to a meeting between President Kiir and coalition partners meant to iron out the cause of the skirmishes.

“In fact, these are SPLM/A-IO forces and not the White army as claimed.”

Tensions in South Sudan had raised concerns among diplomats representing the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), the regional body that helped broker a peace deal in Juba, creating a coalition government in 2018.

The uncertainty came after Dr Machar was placed under house arrest and his allies detained.

The envoys accredited to South Sudan appealed for an immediate ceasefire following days of armed clashes in Upper Nile State between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army.

In a joint statement addressed to South Sudan’s coalition government, Igad diplomats expressed concern that the ongoing fighting in Nasir, Upper Nile, is undermining the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

“We are particularly alarmed by the recent reports of escalating tensions and armed clashes in Nasir County, which threaten the hard-won gains achieved in the implementation of the peace accord and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.

“We call upon the parties and their affiliate groups to immediately ceasefire and exercise maximum restraint. We emphasise the paramount importance of upholding the ceasefire and adhering to the provisions of the revitalised peace agreement. We welcome the recent meeting of the presidency and its outcomes and further encourage continuous dialogue and consultations within the framework of the peace accord,” the diplomats said.

Following the detentions, Machar’s party warned of imminent war if he was not freed.

In a press statement, the SPLM-IO said that Lt-Gen Gabriel Doup Lam, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) was arrested on the orders of his boss, General Paul Nang.

“This action violates the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and cripples the Joint Defence Board, a vital institution of the agreement responsible for the command and control of all forces. This act puts the entire agreement at risk.

“We are also gravely concerned about the heavy deployment of SSPDF around the residence of Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the First Vice President and Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO,” said the party’s acting spokesperson Buok Buoth.

The SPLM-IO also added that Petroleum Minister Puot Kang had been arrested.

The White Army, a militia group composed mainly of armed Nuer youth, claimed control of the strategic town of Nassir after fierce fighting with government forces.

On Wednesday evening, Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a White Army leader in Nasir, told Radio Tamazuj that his forces had successfully pushed the government troops out of the town.

The SSPDF has yet to issue an official statement on the situation. But, in a brief message posted on his official Facebook page, military spokesperson Maj-Gen Lul Ruai Koang said that the army was “not in a position to provide a media briefing on the security situation in Nasir and the surrounding areas”.

Nasir, a strategic town near the Ethiopian border, has long been a flashpoint. The White Army, known for its involvement in ethnic violence, has played a significant role in past conflicts, often opposing government forces.

The latest fighting in Upper Nile has raised fears of escalating violence, as the state has remained unstable since 2013. Tensions flared after the government announced plans to replace long-standing troops with newly deployed forces.

Local armed youth expressed concern that the incoming troops might target civilians or initiate a disarmament campaign. In response, community leaders have rejected the government’s deployment and called for a unified force instead.

Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has urged all parties to work toward de-escalation, warning that further delays could lead to an intensification of the conflict.

“The military incidents in parts of the country are deeply concernaing,” Mr Yakani said. “We urge the White Army leaders in Nasir to embrace peace and refrain from violence. Dialogue should be used to address grievances related to the presence of the SSPDF in Nasir.”

As tensions mount, the future of the revitalised peace agreement remains uncertain, with growing fears that continued clashes could derail South Sudan’s fragile peace process.