South Sudan: Crisis escalates as military surrounds Vice President’s residence

Armed forces encircled Vice President Riek Machar’s home in South Sudan’s capital Wednesday, while authorities detained several high-ranking officials allied with him following an insurgent attack on a northern military installation. The dramatic developments have thrust the fragile nation back to the precipice of widespread conflict.

The military standoff comes just weeks after Machar publicly warned that President Salva Kiir’s dismissal of his political allies from government posts endangered the landmark 2018 peace agreement. That hard-won accord had ended a devastating five-year civil war responsible for over 400,000 deaths and widespread displacement.

Among those detained were Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, arrested Tuesday for his alleged connection to the northern clashes, and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, whose family and security detail were also taken into custody Wednesday. Officials provided no formal justification for either detention.

Water Minister Pal Mai Deng, speaking in his capacity as SPLM-IO party spokesperson, issued a stark warning that Lam’s arrest “puts the entire peace agreement at risk.” Neither Machar nor his party have officially addressed the fighting that triggered the crackdown.

Peace advocates have called for the immediate release of all detained officials, warning that continued military escalation could rapidly deteriorate into full-scale warfare. Regional peace experts emphasized that these developments represent the most serious threat to stability since the 2018 agreement.

South Sudan continues to struggle with implementing key provisions of the peace accord. National elections originally scheduled for last year have been postponed until 2026, ostensibly due to insufficient funding, further complicating the country’s already precarious political landscape and raising serious questions about its democratic future.