House Arrest Raises Legal Questions
First Vice President Riek Machar has not left his Juba residence since 26 March, following government accusations linking him to recent clashes in Nasir County, Upper Nile. No formal charge has been filed, prompting lawyers to question adherence to South Sudanese provisions on pre-trial detention.
Government Clarifies Investigation
Senior presidential adviser Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk insists the confinement is criminal, not political. “If evidence confirms wrongdoing, he can be relieved and tried; until then he remains First Vice President,” he told Radio Tamazuj, declining to specify a timeline for the investigation’s completion.
Peace Deal Still Intact, Advisers Say
Manyang, who heads the ad hoc committee supervising the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, maintains the accord endures despite strain. He stresses that officials unconnected to the Nasir events continue their duties, signalling President Salva Kiir’s stated commitment to the power-sharing framework.
Opposition Leadership in Limbo
With Machar confined, SPLM-IO interim chair Stephen Phar Kuol manages day-to-day operations. According to Manyang, his mandate ends the moment Machar is cleared, underscoring the provisional nature of current arrangements and the fragility of internal opposition cohesion.
Regional Implications and Next Steps
Diplomats in Juba warn that prolonged uncertainty could slow preparations for elections slated for late 2024. Yet they note no immediate threat to stability, given the government’s assurance that due process will guide any decision on Machar’s status and the continuity of the peace roadmap.