South Sudan: Unmiss Urges Restraint As South Sudan Detains VP Machar
Juba — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has warned that the country is on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict, after First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar was put under house arrest on Wednesday.
Reports from Juba indicate that VP Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny, have been placed under house arrest. His security detail has been removed from his residence, leaving only his personal guard, Mark Diu.
President Salva Kiir earlier in the day also ordered an immediate halt to all military operations by the country’s armed forces and the UPDF. The UPDF are deployed in South Sudan under “Operation Mlinzi wa Kimya.”
The deployment follows a request by the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir to the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, seeking urgent support in stabilizing the country after renewed conflict broke out.
The Commander Land Force of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga told departing troops in Gulu last week that they are expected to reinforce peacekeeping efforts and prevent further escalation of violence in the country.
Clashes have reportedly taken place this week between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) near Rejaf, south of Juba, and at Wunaliet, west of the capital city. Reports indicate that the Ugandan army, UPDF, is involved in the fighting.
The situation in Upper Nile remains volatile, with reports of further mobilization of armed forces and aerial bombardment of civilian areas, allegedly using devices containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant on explosion, causing significant casualties and horrific injuries.
We are concerned by reports South Sudan’s First Vice President Machar is under house arrest. We urge President Kiir to reverse this action & prevent further escalation of the situation. It is time for South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate sincerity of stated commitments to peace.
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) March 27, 2025
The UN mission had earlier also called for all parties to take immediate steps to protect civilians, prevent further displacement, and uphold their commitments under the ceasefire to avoid deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The TROIKA countries, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom, along with Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and the European Union Delegation, have offered to facilitate direct talks between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar.
“The collective message of the region and the international community is the same. We remain convinced that there is only one way out of the cycle of conflict, and that is to return to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, in letter and spirit,” Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of UNMISS, said in a joint statement issued in Juba on Monday evening.
Halt to military operations
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir ordered an immediate halt to all military operations by the country’s armed forces on Wednesday, according to a statement from his office, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
Kiir, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, directed the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and allied Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to cease hostilities immediately.
“‘All forces under my command are hereby ordered to cease any form of attack or military operation against any forces with immediate effect,’ the presidential statement said.”
The statement did not provide further details on the implementation of the ceasefire or the specific groups targeted by the halt in operations.
By The Independent
