By Matik Kueth
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) confirmed on Thursday that first Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and his wife, Minister of Interior Angelina Teny, have been put “under house arrest” in Juba.
In a statement, Oyet Nathaniel, Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-IO, stated that senior security personnel carried out the arrest on President Salva Kiir’s directives.
“In yet another negative twist of events, at around 9:46 pm (CAT), senior security personnel from the National Security Services, Tiger Division and the SSPDF, acting Under the directives of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, breached the residence of H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-O, and put him and his wife Hon. Angelina Teny, the Minister of Interior of the Republic of South Sudan under house arrest in Juba,” Nathaniel stated.
He said Machar’s arrest and detention effectively collapsed the peace deal, a move many see as a serious threat to the peace and stability the agreement sought to restore.
“The arrest and detention of H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny effectively brings the Agreement to a collapse; thus, the prospect for Peace and Stability in South Sudan has now been put into serious jeopardy,” he stressed.
Nathaniel noted that “this arrest by President Salva Kiir is an act of deceit, breaking promises, dishonoring Agreements, lack of Political will to bring peace and stability in the Country.”
He called on IGAD, AU, and the United Nations to intervene and ensure the safety and immediate release of Machar, his wife, and other political detainees.
According to him, the situation in the country is becoming more complicated as the SSPDF continues to launch attacks on SPLA-IO units at various training centers.
“We would like to also inform the public about the ongoing air and ground military attacks on Cantonments sites and training centers of Wunliet, Aswa and Rejaf training Centre respectively, which constitute a serious violation and breakdown of the Permanent Ceasefire and the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) 2017,” he emphasized.
The SPLM-IO Deputy Chair appealed to South Sudanese citizens to remain calm as diplomatic efforts are underway to ensure Dr. Machar’s release.
“We also call upon members of the SPLM/SPLA-I0 and the general public to remain steadfast, calm and vigilant as diplomatic efforts to ensure the release H.E First Vice President, and the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO and other political detainees are underway,” he urged.
Despite the SPLM-IO, regional, and internal community’s appeals for Dr. Machar’s release, the government has yet to provide an update on his alleged arrest.