South Sudan Detains High-Profile Figures Tied to Riek Machar, Threatening Peace Agreement

South Sudanese authorities have arrested the petroleum minister and several high-ranking military officials linked to First Vice President Riek Machar, according to a spokesperson for Machar on Wednesday. This action raises concerns about the stability of the peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war.
The arrests come after intense fighting in the northern town of Nasir, a strategically important area, between government forces and the White Army militia, which is primarily made up of armed Nuer, Machar’s ethnic group.
During the 2013-2018 civil war, the White Army fought alongside Machar’s forces against President Salva Kiir’s predominantly Dinka troops.
Those arrested include Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who is from Nasir, and Deputy Army Chief Gabriel Doup Lam. Other senior military leaders supporting Machar have been placed under house arrest, as confirmed by Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang.
South Sudanese troops have also been stationed around Machar’s residence, though he was able to go to his office on Wednesday morning, according to Baluang.
In the government’s first public response to the arrests, Information Minister Michael Makuei accused Machar’s forces of collaborating with the White Army to attack a military garrison near Nasir on Tuesday.
Although Makuei did not directly comment on the detentions, he reiterated President Kiir’s commitment to preventing the country from sliding back into war.
“The government is handling the situation, and the public should remain calm and ignore the unfounded rumors spread by those against peace and stability,” Makuei said in a statement.