South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar has been placed under house arrest, prompting a warning from the United Nations that the country is at risk of relapsing into widespread conflict. The move has collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war, which killed over 400,000 people.
The arrest was carried out by defense minister and chief of national security in a convoy of heavily armed vehicles, with Machar’s bodyguards being disarmed and an arrest warrant issued under unclear charges. The UN human rights commission described the move as “a severe unravelling of the peace process” that threatens millions of lives.
Machar was arrested alongside his wife, who is the country’s interior minister, at their home, following reports of escalating armed clashes and attacks on civilians. His party denies current links with a militia group that has clashed with the military recently.
The power-sharing agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir is under threat, posing a grave danger to peace efforts in South Sudan. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire and constructive talks between the parties involved, warning of catastrophic consequences if the agreements are not upheld.
International bodies have condemned the arrest, with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development urging restraint and calling for Kiir to release Machar. The US Bureau of African Affairs has also urged South Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate sincerity in their commitment to peace.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/27/fears-grow-of-return-to-civil-war-in-south-sudan-after-vice-president-riek-machar-detention