South Sudan Vice President Arrested, Fears of Escalating Conflict

The arrest of Riek Machar has raised concerns that the situation in the country could once again escalate into civil war. The United Nations has called on all sides to "exercise restraint".

Machar is a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir, and his arrest took place at his residence, with 20 heavily armed military vehicles, according to the SPLM-IO party.

South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar. Photo: X/SudansPost

"We strongly condemn the unconstitutional action taken today by the Minister of Defense and the Director of National Security," the SPLM-IO party said in a statement, stressing that the charges against Mr. Machar were still unclear.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned that the arrests were putting the country in danger.

“Tonight, South Sudan’s leaders are at a crossroads: either return to full-scale conflict or move the country towards peace, recovery and democracy,” said Nicholas Haysom, head of the UNMISS mission. He also called on all sides to exercise restraint.

The United Nations said there had been armed clashes between forces loyal to President Kiir and those supporting Mr Machar in the past 24 hours. About 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Upper Nile region since last month due to the escalating conflict.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but quickly descended into a civil war that lasted from 2013 to 2018, killing more than 400,000 people and displacing millions. Although a 2018 peace deal ended major fighting, tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar have simmered.

Cao Phong (according to DW, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/pho-tong-thong-nam-sudan-bi-bat-lo-ngai-xung-dot-leo-thang-post340261.html