The South Sudan capital city, Juba, faces serious problems after soldiers blocked First Vice President Riek Machar at his house. Army leaders arrested General Gabriel Duop Lam from the SPLA-opposition forces, plus a minister who supports the armed opposition leader. General Duop Lam serves as Chief of Staff for SPLA-IO and Deputy Chief of Defense Forces in the barely united SSPDF. Police took him Tuesday to army headquarters, where he went for a meeting called by General Paul Nang Majok.
SPLA-IO quickly wrote a public message saying this arrest violates the second peace deal signed in 2018. They stated that arresting General Duop Lam violates their agreement and hurts the Joint Defence Board, which should control all military groups. The opposition group warned that this action threatens the entire peace process. They also complained about many SSPDF soldiers around Vice President Machar's home.
The trouble continued Wednesday when police arrested Petroleum Minister Puot Kang from his Juba house around 2 PM local time. Later that same day, Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters the arrested officials committed crimes but he refused to explain what those crimes were. Minister Makuei supports President Salva Kiir rather than the opposition group.
South Sudan fell into violent fighting in December 2013 when President Kiir and Machar had major disagreements. Leaders signed a peace agreement in August 2015, but new fighting broke out just one year later. Everyone tried again with a second peace deal signed in 2018. These recent arrests and military actions threaten the fragile peace between rival political groups.
SPLA-IO quickly wrote a public message saying this arrest violates the second peace deal signed in 2018. They stated that arresting General Duop Lam violates their agreement and hurts the Joint Defence Board, which should control all military groups. The opposition group warned that this action threatens the entire peace process. They also complained about many SSPDF soldiers around Vice President Machar's home.
The trouble continued Wednesday when police arrested Petroleum Minister Puot Kang from his Juba house around 2 PM local time. Later that same day, Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters the arrested officials committed crimes but he refused to explain what those crimes were. Minister Makuei supports President Salva Kiir rather than the opposition group.
South Sudan fell into violent fighting in December 2013 when President Kiir and Machar had major disagreements. Leaders signed a peace agreement in August 2015, but new fighting broke out just one year later. Everyone tried again with a second peace deal signed in 2018. These recent arrests and military actions threaten the fragile peace between rival political groups.
