The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has issued a stark warning about the potential for renewed conflict in South Sudan following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny. The couple was placed under house arrest on Wednesday night, escalating tensions in the fragile nation.
UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom has called for an immediate recommitment to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, urging all parties to prioritize peace and dialogue over unilateral actions. Haysom stressed that any deviation from the agreed-upon terms risks undoing the progress made over the past seven years and could plunge the country back into a devastating civil war.
“Tonight, the country’s leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery, and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement,” Haysom said in a statement.
The UN official further warned that instability in South Sudan would not only affect its citizens but also have significant ramifications for the wider region. The international community has expressed deep concerns that any return to hostilities could trigger a humanitarian crisis and displacement of civilians, similar to the previous civil wars that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Reports indicate that Machar’s arrest follows weeks of intensifying clashes between his forces and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) near the capital, Juba. Local media suggest that tensions have been rising as factions within the government struggle for control, despite the peace agreement that ended years of brutal conflict.
UNMISS has urged all sides to cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue, emphasizing that the interests of the South Sudanese people must be prioritized over political rivalries. As the situation develops, regional and international actors are closely monitoring events, hoping to prevent the nation from sliding back into war.
The coming days will be crucial in determining whether South Sudan can maintain its fragile peace or face yet another cycle of violence and instability.
