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Riek Machar’s Detention in South Sudan

At dawn, the quiet upscale neighborhood of Juba is starkly juxtaposed with the sight of armored personnel carriers blocking the residence of South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar. Since March, Machar has been confined within his own home, under the vigilant watch of security officers armed with AK-47s. Inside, he lives stripped of communication tools, his movements heavily restricted, his wife separated from him within the sprawling compound.

Machar’s detention comes amid growing fears that South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, may relapse into conflict. The country achieved independence in 2011 with substantial support from the United States but was plunged into a devastating civil war by 2013, largely fueled by ethnic divisions and rivalries between Machar and President Salva Kiir.

In 2020, hopes of peace were kindled as Kiir and Machar agreed to form a unity government. However, instead of leading to stability, the agreement now teeters on the brink of collapse. Machar is accused of inciting rebellion through the White Army, a militia implicated in the recent downing of a United Nations helicopter.

The current situation has escalated to a point where neighboring countries are bracing for potential fallout. Uganda has already deployed troops to support Kiir’s government, while analysts warn of a possible surge in refugees moving towards Ethiopia and Sudan, both of which are grappling with their own crises.

“South Sudan is at a critical and terrible juncture,” stated Puok Both Baluang, Machar’s acting press secretary, in a recent interview. He described the vice president’s house arrest as a “clear violation of the Constitution and his rights as a constitutional office holder with immunity.”

The intensifying rivalry between Kiir and Machar has been a defining element of South Sudan’s brief period of independence. Both leaders have faced accusations of profiteering and human rights abuses. Kiir’s administration has taken a hard stance, rejecting mediation efforts and preventing envoys from meeting with Machar. Many of Machar’s associates have either been arrested, have disappeared, or have fled the country.

Amidst an economic downturn exacerbated by the shutdown of its main oil pipeline, Kiir’s government is struggling to maintain control. “The knives are out,” commented Alan Boswell, a Horn of Africa project director at the International Crisis Group.

Opposition leaders regard Machar’s detention as a strategic move by Kiir to silence dissent. Restrictions on Machar had tightened even before his house arrest, with limitations placed on his travel and public engagements. The government has also accused him of collaborating with the White Army, claims that Machar’s party vehemently denies.

Despite distancing himself from the White Army, regional observers suggest that Machar’s influence over the militia has diminished over the years. “In many respects, the White Army is openly dismissive of the opposition movement led by Machar,” Boswell added.

This year, Kiir showed signs of consolidating power further by appointing Benjamin Bol Mel, a businessman closely linked to him and sanctioned by the United States, as one of the country’s five vice presidents.

As the political landscape continues to shift, the detention of Machar and the increase in violent confrontations have heightened the sense of instability. The recent recapture of Nasir, a strategic town in Upper Nile State, by government forces underscores the ongoing military engagements. Despite their retreat, the White Army continues to mobilize, posing a constant threat to civilian safety.

“So many people are exposed and we have very minimal access to them,” lamented Mohammed Ibrahim Abuanja, the head of Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan. “This is truly an unacceptable reality.”