The SPLM-IO has voiced alarm over heavy SSPDF security around First Vice President Riek Machar’s residence, following the arrest of high-ranking officer Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam. This situation poses risks to the fragile peace agreement of 2018 and has raised public concern. The SPLM-IO demands Gen. Lam’s release and urges for de-escalation amid heightened tensions and recent violence in the region.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has raised concerns about the heightened presence of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) surrounding the residence of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. This issue highlights the prevailing challenges to the fragile peace established by the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which Dr. Machar signed with President Salva Kiir.
President Kiir, at the helm of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and Dr. Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, face difficulties in integrating various armed factions into a unified national army. Recent developments around J1 have escalated due to the arrest of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a high-ranking official and Co-Chair of the Joint Defence Board. He was detained by Gen. Paul Nang, the SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces, igniting alarms within the SPLM-IO.
SPLM-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng condemned this action as a breach of the revitalized agreement, emphasizing its detrimental effect on the Joint Defence Board, which is crucial for managing forces under the peace process. He has called for Gen. Lam’s swift release and urged all stakeholders to work towards diffusing rising tensions, especially after instances of violence reported in Nasir County.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), confirmed the situation around Dr. Machar’s residence as critical, with government forces, including the elite Tiger Division, blocking access. He noted that this atmosphere has induced public anxiety and threatens the already precarious peace.
Eyewitnesses reported a marked increase in security personnel at Dr. Machar’s Amarat neighborhood residence. The SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, could not be reached for comments regarding these developments. Additionally, a senior official disclosed the detention of several SPLM-IO members, including Gen. Lam and Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe, directly linked to ongoing confrontations involving the SSPDF and the White Army in Nasir.
These events follow a high-level presidency meeting aimed at addressing the intensifying tensions and insecurity affecting various regions, specifically Nasir, Western Equatoria State, and Western Bahr el Ghazal State. Key figures in attendance included Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and leaders from multiple political factions, underscoring the urgency of mitigating conflict.
In summary, the SPLM-IO has expressed serious concerns regarding the increased military presence surrounding Dr. Riek Machar’s residence, coinciding with the arrest of a prominent SPLM-IO leader. The clashes in Nasir County further complicate the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement. Urgent action is needed to alleviate escalating tensions and uphold the commitments of the peace process. Authorities are called upon to ensure the safety of key political figures to maintain stability in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
