South Sudanese security forces have arrested Wednesday the petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with First Vice President Riek Machar after deploying Tuesday heavy security forces around the residence of First Vice President in the capital, Juba.
The measures came following the detention of General Gabriel Duop Lam, acting chief of staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).
In a statement SPLA-IO condemned the arrest of Duop Lam, who also serves as a Deputy Chief of Defence Forces for the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), accusing SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces General Paul Nang of orchestrating the arrest in violation of the 2018 peace agreement.
“We are also gravely concerned about the heavy deployment of SSPDF around the residence of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the First Vice President and Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A (IO),” the statement said.
The group argues that the deployment is not only a breach of trust but also a direct threat to ongoing efforts to de-escalate violence in Upper Nile State.
“These actions erode confidence and trust among the parties and jeopardize efforts to de-escalate the current violence that erupted in Nasir County of Upper Nile State,”
The SPLM (IO) urged the release of Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam and calls upon all parties to continue exerting joint efforts to ensure an end to the violence in Upper Nile State.
Last month, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan reported increased fighting between the army and “armed youth” in Nasir County in Upper Nile.