A fragile peace agreement in South Sudan is in danger of collapsing, raising fears that the country could swiftly return to war. The deal, which ended a five-year civil war and killed an estimated 400,000 people, has been shaken by the arrest of Riek Machar, the leader of the SPLM/A-IO party.
Machar’s arrest followed the sacking and arrest of other prominent officials from his party, as well as the arrival of troops from neighboring Uganda at President Salva Kiir’s invitation to help South Sudan’s military fight a local militia. The SPLM/A-IO condemned what it called “military aggression against civilians” by the Ugandan forces.
The crisis is deeply polarized along ethnic lines, with clashes between government forces and a Nuer militia known as the White Army in the town of Nasir shaking the nation’s fragile peace. Dozens have been killed in the clashes, local media reported.
International leaders are warning that South Sudan is “on the edge” of collapse, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for de-escalation and Western nations urging Kiir to reverse Machar’s arrest. The World Bank has described the situation as a “bleak assessment,” citing intense violence, weak management of public resources, and political contestation.
With South Sudan facing multiple crises at once, including poverty and a refugee crisis, the international community is urging calm and calling for a sustainable peace solution.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/29/africa/sudan-peace-deal-cusp-civil-war-intl/index.html