South Sudanese security forces have arrested a high-ranking military official aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar and deployed troops around his residence, sparking concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace agreement that ended years of civil war.
According to Machar’s spokesperson, Pal Mai Deng, Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam was detained on Tuesday by General Paul Nang, the head of South Sudan’s defense forces. Shortly after, government security forces surrounded Machar’s residence in what his office described as a violation of the peace accord.
“This action undermines the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and weakens the Joint Defence Board, a crucial institution responsible for coordinating the country’s armed forces. These developments threaten the entire peace process,” Deng said in a statement.
He also expressed concern over the heavy deployment of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops around Machar’s home, warning that such actions erode trust among the political factions.
While no reason was given for Lam’s arrest, South Sudanese military spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang declined to comment, and Information Minister Michael Makuei did not immediately respond to inquiries.
