DJIBOUTI- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has raised alarm over the house arrest of South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, and the escalating political tensions in the country.
The regional bloc has warned that these developments undermine the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and risk plunging the nation into renewed violence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu cited the critical need for South Sudanese leaders to adhere to the R-ARCSS, which remains the only viable framework for sustainable peace in the country.
He urged all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that violate the spirit of the agreement and emphasized the importance of dialogue and restraint to prevent a full-scale relapse into conflict.
“The current trajectory, if unchecked, could lead to a collapse of the transitional process and a relapse into full-scale war, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan and the region at large,” Dr. Gebeyehu stated.
The warning comes amidst reports that Machar, alongside his wife and two bodyguards, has been placed under house arrest by South Sudanese security forces.
The move followed accusations linking him to recent clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State, between government forces and the White Army—a militia group historically associated with Machar’s faction.
The SPLM-IO, Machar’s party, has denied any ongoing ties to the White Army.
IGAD has called on all signatories to the R-ARCSS to prioritize peaceful and inclusive solutions to resolve their differences.
The bloc reiterated its readiness to support mediation efforts and appealed to regional and international partners to reinforce the peace process.
“The people of South Sudan deserve lasting stability, not a return to conflict,” IGAD emphasized, urging stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of national unity.
The situation in South Sudan remains fragile, with renewed clashes near the capital, Juba, and mounting concerns about the collapse of the transitional government formed under the 2018 peace accord.
Observers warn that a return to violence would have dire consequences, not only for South Sudan but for the wider region.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, endured a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
IGAD has been a key mediator in the peace process, brokering agreements aimed at stabilizing the country and fostering national reconciliation.
IGAD Executive Secretary, H.E. @DrWorkneh, Concerned Over Ongoing Tensions in the Republic of South Sudan, Calls for Immediate Restraint and Dialogue.Read more: tr.ee/cuTCLK
