The United Nations’ human rights body has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and political tensions in South Sudan, warning that the country’s fragile peace process is at serious risk. The warning came just days after the arrest of several high-ranking officials allied with Vice President Riek Machar.
Earlier this month, security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir detained two ministers and several senior military leaders who are aligned with Machar. The arrests have raised fears about the future of the 2018 peace agreement, which ended a brutal five-year civil war between Kiir’s and Machar’s forces, a conflict that claimed nearly 400,000 lives.
Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, stated, “We are witnessing an alarming regression that threatens to undo years of hard-won progress. Rather than sowing division and conflict, South Sudan’s leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, protect the human rights of citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy.”
The arrests followed violent clashes in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir, where national forces have been battling the White Army militia, a loose coalition primarily composed of members of the Nuer ethnic group, Machar’s base.
Government spokesperson Michael Makuei defended the arrests, claiming the Machar-affiliated officials were involved in “conflict with the law.” He accused Machar’s supporters of collaborating with the White Army and attacking a military garrison near Nasir on March 4. Machar’s party has denied these allegations.
On Saturday, South Sudan’s National Security Services intelligence agency announced the detention of several individuals suspected of involvement in the violence in Nasir and a nearby town. The total number of arrests or the identities of those detained were not disclosed.
Makuei has yet to respond to the U.N. rights commission’s statement.
In a further escalation, a South Sudanese general and numerous soldiers were killed on Friday when a U.N. helicopter attempting to evacuate them from Nasir came under attack, according to government sources.