South Sudanese forces have arrested a high-ranking military official loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar and deployed troops around Machar’s residence, raising serious concerns about the stability of the country’s 2018 peace agreement. The move, described as a direct threat to the fragile peace deal that ended South Sudan’s brutal civil war, has further escalated tensions between rival factions.
The arrested official, Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam, was taken into custody on Tuesday by General Paul Nang, the head of South Sudan’s defence forces, according to a statement from Machar’s spokesperson, Pal Mai Deng. At the same time, security forces surrounded Machar’s home in the capital, Juba.
“This action violates the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and cripples the Joint Defence Board, a vital institution of the Agreement responsible for the command and control of all forces,” Deng said, warning that the situation could jeopardize the entire peace process.
“We are also gravely concerned about the heavy deployment of SSPDF [South Sudan People’s Defence Forces] around the residence of… Machar. These actions erode confidence and trust among the parties,” he added.
While Deng did not disclose the reason for Lam’s arrest, the South Sudanese military has so far declined to comment. Army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang issued a brief statement on Tuesday, refusing to address the situation, while Information Minister Michael Makuei has yet to respond to inquiries.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since the signing of the 2018 agreement, which ended a five-year conflict between Machar and President Salva Kiir that killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced over 2.5 million. Despite this, violent clashes between armed groups continue to erupt across the country, highlighting the fragile nature of the truce.
The civil war, which began in December 2013 after Kiir dismissed Machar as his deputy, devastated the country. In July 2016, forces loyal to both leaders engaged in intense fighting in Juba for nearly a week, using tanks, attack helicopters, and anti-aircraft guns. Both sides denied responsibility for the violence while urging calm as the fighting raged on.
The ongoing political and security tensions have also impacted South Sudan’s economy, with oil production—a key revenue source for the impoverished nation—suffering setbacks due to instability.
The latest developments cast a shadow over the country’s already fragile peace process, with fears growing that the arrest of Lam and the military’s actions against Machar could reignite hostilities. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation, as any further escalation could plunge South Sudan back into chaos.
