The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has urged all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement following reports of the detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
In a statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom noted that South Sudan stands at a critical point warning that leaders must choose between peace and conflict.
“Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement,” said Haysom.
Haysom further cautioned that unilateral amendments by Parties to that agreement could jeopardize the gains made in the past seven years.
“Unilateral amendments by Parties to that agreement that jeopardize the hard-won gains of the past seven years risk returning the country back into a state of war. This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region.”
UNMISS is calling for Parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue for the best interest of the people.
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO) says Dr. Machar has been placed under house arrest.
According to BBC, SPLM/IO noted that an armed convoy led by top security officials, including the defence minister, entered Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, and disarmed his bodyguards late on Wednesday.
“Technically, Dr. Machar is under house arrest, but the security officials initially tried to take him away,” said Reath Muoch Tang, chairman of the party’s foreign relations committee.
Fragile peace at stake
UN says, civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with First Vice President Machar. The war marked by ethnic violence, mass atrocities and a widespread humanitarian crisis lasted until a fragile peace deal was signed in 2018.
Though the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement brought a degree of stability, delays in its implementation and continued political rivalries have kept tensions simmering.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire, with over nine million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, including two million internally displaced persons.
Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/international-community-offers-to-facilitate-south-sudan-peace-talks/
