The arrests of Gen. Gabriel Doup Lam and Puot Kang Chol, senior members of South Sudan’s opposition, have prompted concerns over the stability of the peace deal that concluded the civil war. Despite government assertions that war will not ensue, the situation remains tense, particularly with escalating violence involving the White Army militia. International intervention is urged to prevent a potential return to conflict.
Security forces in South Sudan have detained key opposition figures, fueling concerns regarding the durability of the peace agreement that concluded the civil war. The arrests include Gen. Gabriel Doup Lam and oil minister Puot Kang Chol, both influential members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), associated with Vice-President Riek Machar, a prominent adversary of President Salva Kiir.
The party spokesperson, Col. Lam Gabriel Paul, lamented that the government did not provide explanations for the detentions. Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan faced a civil war two years later, ignited by disputes between Machar and Kiir. Although a peace treaty was established in 2018, the situation remains unstable.
Despite the escalating tensions, President Kiir maintains that South Sudan will not revert to war, according to his spokesperson. Gen. Lam oversees the military faction of the SPLA-IO, which has yet to integrate into the national army, and was taken into custody recently, while Chol was arrested in the early morning hours.
Notably, troops surrounded Machar’s residence prior to their withdrawal, with reports indicating that other senior military officials associated with Machar have been placed under house arrest. The circumstances surrounding these detentions cast a shadow over the peace agreement’s stability, prompting calls for international intervention.
According to Machar’s spokesperson, Pal Mai Deng, Lam’s imprisonment constitutes a breach of the peace accord, jeopardizing the agreement’s integrity. As the situation evolves, there are concerns regarding recent clashes involving the White Army militia, a group that supported Machar during the civil war and has reportedly seized a strategic town near the Ethiopian border.
Territorial conflicts raise fears that violence may escalate within South Sudan, with Ter Manyang, head of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, warning that without effective leadership intervention, the nation risks returning to warfare. South Sudan has yet to conduct an election, which is now anticipated in 2026, after significant delays.
The recent arrests of opposition leaders in South Sudan have intensified fears regarding the stability of the ongoing peace deal, which ended a protracted civil war. Key figures from the SPLA-IO, aligned with Vice-President Riek Machar, have been detained without explanation, raising alarms about possible breaches of the peace accord. With tensions escalating and threats of renewed conflict, the situation underscores the fragile nature of governance in South Sudan and the critical need for international support and oversight in these tumultuous times.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
