S. Sudan government confirms first VP under house arrest
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The South Sudanese government says First Vice President Riek Machar is now under house arrest, two days after he was reported to have been detained.
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South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, and opposition leader Riek Machar shake hands during peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Thursday, June 21, 2018. (AP)
South Sudan's government confirmed on Friday that First Vice President Riek Machar has been placed under house arrest, two days after his detention, intensifying efforts to mediate the escalating political crisis.
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived in the South Sudanese capital of Juba on Friday to help defuse tensions, which threaten to unravel the fragile peace agreement between rival factions.
Machar's arrest, carried out by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, has drawn international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties to "put down the weapons" and prioritize the people of South Sudan, warning that the crisis could bring the world's youngest nation back into civil war.
Attempted sabotage of elections?
South Sudan’s Information Minister and government spokesman, Michael Makuei Lueth, announced Kiir’s directive to place Machar under house arrest, accusing him of instigating recent clashes in Nasir County. Makuei claimed Machar sought to derail the upcoming elections and push the country back into war.
Despite the arrest, Juba remained calm on Friday.
Machar’s party condemned his detention as unlawful, calling it a move to "derail the peace process and consolidate power through unconstitutional means."
The party’s foreign relations chairman, Reath Muoch Tang, warned that Kiir's government could use a state of emergency to dissolve political institutions and establish "full autocratic rule."
'On the brink'
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned that the country was "on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict."
The US State Department urged Kiir to "reverse this action and prevent further escalation."
A heavily armed convoy reportedly entered Machar’s residence late Wednesday to detain him. More than 20 of his political and military allies have also been arrested since February, with many held incommunicado.
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was dispatched to Juba by Kenyan President William Ruto, chair of the East African Community, following consultations with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Growing security concerns
The crisis has triggered concerns among foreign governments. The British government has reduced its diplomatic staff to a minimum and advised its citizens to leave South Sudan. Germany and Norway have closed their embassies in Juba, and the US has scaled back its diplomatic presence and issued a similar advisory.
Machar’s arrest follows weeks of fighting between federal forces loyal to Kiir and the "White Army," a militia the government accuses of supporting Machar. UNMISS has condemned indiscriminate attacks on civilians, particularly in northeastern South Sudan.
Analysts suggest that Kiir, 73, is maneuvering to sideline Machar ahead of the country’s elections, using cabinet reshuffles and targeted arrests to consolidate power.
