From Adia Jildo, in Juba
The United State Embassy in Juba has appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to reverse the house arrest order imposed on the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The First Vice President who also holds the position as the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, was put under house arrest alongside his wife Angelina Teny, the Minister of Interior on Wednesday, in Juba.
All protocol and close protection personnel of the First Vice President have also been arrested and moved to separate locations.
“We are concerned by reports that South Sudan’s First Vice President Machar is under house arrest. We urge President Kiir to reverse this action and prevent further escalation of the situation” the US embassy said in a press statement.
Tensions bewteen President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riak Machar has continued in the past weeks following an attack on army garrison in Nassir by the white army on the South Sudan People Defence Forces leading to the death of General David Majur Dak and 27 other soldiers during a routine military redeploment. The government said all these happened due to a misunderstanding though it later carried out and continued to carryout massive aerial bombardment in Nasir,escalating the situation.
The US further urged South Sudan’s leaders to commit to peace in the country.
“It is time for South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate sincerity of stated commitment to peace,” the US Embassy statement stressed
The United stated has however issued several advisories to compell US citizens who visiting or in the vountry.
“The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan is further reducing to minimal staffing for U.S. personnel in Juba due to continued security threats in South Sudan,” US embassy stated.
“As advised on Travel State Gun South Sudan is a level 4 do not travel country and we urge U.S. citizens currently in South Sudan to consider departing via commercial means while they are available” US advisory stated.
According to the First Deputy Speaker of parliament who is also the Deputy chair of the party (SPLM-IO), the unlawful arrest of the party’s commander in chief and the first vice president is the collapse of the R-ARCCS.
In a statement issued to media on Thursday morning, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino stated that unlawful arrest and detention of Dr. Riek Machar Teny effectively brings the Agreement to a collapse thus the prospect for Peace and Stability in South Sudan puts the peace agreement in jeopardy.
“Consequently, we would like to declare that with the arrest and detention of H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny the R-ARCSS, 2018 has been abrogated. This arrest by President Salva Kiir is an act of deceit, breaking promises, dishonoring Agreements, lack of Political will to bring peace and stability in the Country,” stated the first Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel.
President Salva Kiir Maryardit and the first vice president signed the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) which brought to an end the civil war in South Sudan.
The party has also called on international bodies as well as regional groups to protect the peace agrement by pushing for dialogue among the leaders and ensure the safety and immediate release of Dr. Machar.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has also expressed concern over the security development in the country, including the reports of the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan.
The regional body warned that the escalating political tensions in South Sudan could develop into serious crisis undermining the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and risk plunging the country back into violent conflict.
IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu said, ” All parties to immediately refrain from unilateral actions that violate the spirit and letter of the R-ARCSS, which remains the only viable framework for sustainable peace in South Sudan. 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.”
The Executive Secretary also urged “all signatories to the Agreement to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize dialogue, and resolve differences through inclusive and peaceful means.
Dr. Workneh reiterated IGAD’s readiness to support mediation efforts and called upon regional and international partners to reinforce the imperative of preserving peace in South Sudan.
Other regional bodies have also responded with Kenya’s president stating a team of special envoy is expected to arrive Juba to talk with the president on the developing security situation in the country. The kenyan government also called on the parties in South Sudan to prioritize peace.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011, after fight against the Arab government regime of marginalising the Southners which took the country 21 years.
Between 2013 and 2016, the country slide into a bloody civil war which led to the death and displacement of thousands.
