Khartoum: Rising violence and political tensions in South Sudan are endangering the country’s delicate peace process, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned on Saturday.
The statement comes just days after security forces arrested multiple officials linked to Vice President Riek Machar.
Earlier this month, troops loyal to President Salva Kiir detained two government ministers and several high-ranking military officials aligned with Machar. The move has sparked concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace agreement, which put an end to a brutal five-year civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives.
"We are seeing a dangerous setback that threatens to undo years of progress. Instead of deepening divisions and stoking conflict, South Sudanese leaders must prioritize the peace process, respect human rights, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy," said Yasmin Sooka, chair of the UN rights commission.
The arrests come amid escalating violence in Nasir, a strategic town in the north, where clashes have erupted between national forces and the White Army militia—a loosely organized group composed mainly of Nuer fighters, Machar’s ethnic group.
Government spokesperson Michael Makuei justified the arrests, stating that the detained officials were involved in activities "against the law." He also accused Machar’s forces of working alongside the White Army to attack a military base near Nasir on March 4, though Machar’s party has denied the allegations.
On Saturday, South Sudan’s National Security Services confirmed the detention of several individuals allegedly linked to the fighting in Nasir and a nearby town but did not disclose their identities or the exact number of arrests.
Meanwhile, violence intensified on Friday when a UN helicopter attempting to evacuate South Sudanese soldiers from Nasir was attacked, resulting in the deaths of a general and multiple troops, according to government sources.
