- Vice President Machar's residence encircled by government forces
- Three senior allies detained including deputy army chief
- 2018 peace deal faces collapse after northern base attack
- Elections postponed until 2025 amid funding shortages
South Sudan's capital witnessed dramatic military maneuvers Wednesday as presidential guards blocked access to Vice President Riek Machar's compound. This escalation follows violent clashes in Upper Nile state, where Machar-aligned forces reportedly seized control of a strategic barracks. Observers fear these events could reignite the civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives between 2013-2018.
The detention of Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol marks the third high-profile arrest this week. Analysts suggest these moves demonstrate President Kiir's consolidation of power ahead of delayed national elections. With the transitional government's oil revenue declining 38% year-over-year according to IMF reports, control over petroleum resources has become increasingly contentious.
Regional experts highlight disturbing parallels to Sudan's ongoing conflict, where power-sharing agreements similarly collapsed. Unlike Khartoum's crisis however, Juba's political standoff unfolds amid severe humanitarian pressures - 75% of South Sudan's population requires aid according to UNOCHA data. The nation's heavy reliance on oil exports (accounting for 90% of government income) creates additional instability as global prices fluctuate.
International mediators face growing challenges as both factions accuse each other of violating the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. The United States Embassy in Juba reiterated calls for restraint through an official statement: Violence undermines transitional processes and delays critical economic reforms.Meanwhile, the African Union's Peace and Security Council plans emergency consultations next week.
