South Sudan's Peace Deal at Risk: VP Riek Machar Under House Arrest, Kenya Mediates

House Arrest of Vice President Riek Machar

• 📌 Riek Machar, South Sudan's First Vice President, and his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny, have been placed under house arrest in Juba by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir.
• ⚠️ The party of Riek Machar claims government forces stormed his home, arrested him and his wife, and disarmed his bodyguards.
• 🚨 The UK has advised its nationals to leave South Sudan, and the UN has warned the country is closer to conflict.

Fragile Peace Agreement Under Threat

• 🕊️ The 2018 peace deal, intended to end a 5-year civil war, is described as rapidly unraveling.
• 💥 The regional block EGAD and the UN have expressed concerns that Machar's arrest derails the fragile peace process and pushes South Sudan towards another civil war.

Escalating Tensions and Foreign Troop Presence

• 📈 Tensions have been escalating, particularly in Upper Nile State, between government forces and the White Army militia linked to Machar.
• ✈️ Recent violence included air and ground attacks on an opposition army base and training center near Juba.
• 🇺🇬 The presence of Ugandan troops supporting the government is seen as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement, which prohibits foreign troops on South Sudanese soil.

International Reactions and Mediation Efforts

• 🇺🇸 The US has called for the immediate release of Riek Machar.
• 🇰🇪 Kenya's President William Ruto has spoken with Salva Kiir and is sending a special envoy, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to mediate and deescalate tensions.
• ⏳ The situation is at a critical juncture, with the coming days crucial for determining the survival of South Sudan's peace or its collapse into war.