
“South Sudan’s government has deployed security forces around First Vice President Riek Machar’s house in Juba. Government spokesperson Michael Makuei says the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and national security forces are being deployed for Machar’s own safety. A signatory to the South Sudan 2018 peace agreement says the implementation of the deal has stalled. Rajab Mohandis says the main body monitoring the deal has done very little to report recent attacks by the South Sudan army on opposition bases across the country. And, some SPLM-IO officials and supporters are calling on the brokers of the revitalized peace deal to intervene immediately, arguing that the agreement is on the verge of collapse” (South Sudan In Focus, 28.03.2022).
Things are really hot in Juba, as both parties are addressing it. SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO have both addressed the movements of the weekend. This Monday isn’t getting better and the ramifications of it is dire. As the SPLM-IG is directing blame and SPLM-IO has asked the IGAD to help to mediate. Clearly, things are going sour, as SPLM-IO has reacted to the recent appointments and purge of opposition generals. Therefore, things are not getting better.
This in combination of the attacks on SPLM-IO bases in the Unity State and Upper Nile State. That is all causing alarm. As SPLM-IO renounced their participation in the R-JMEC and the Technical Committee for implementation of the R-ARCSS.
We are seeing movement that reminds us of 2013 and 2016. The same sorts of actions by both parties. They are skirmishes and movements of troops by the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) against the SPLM/A-IO bases. These are orders by the President… who is already acted with Presidential Decree of appointing people in government without consent or dialogue with fellow signatories.
Machar has been in house-arrest before and what is happening to him isn’t anything new. It is just a new direct assault on him and his party. Therefore, no one should be shocked by this. It is a clear violation and escalation of the state. As it is targeting him and his party, which he has purged generals from in recent time.
We have to see how this goes, but the signs are not any good. Last time in 2016 he fled Juba after 48 hours and got a base of his troops within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was later for a long time house arrested in South Africa. This is why he know the price of aiming for power and being a leader of SPLM/A-IO.
He and Kiir needs to talks and settle the grievances before they order a new civil war. Because, this is how it has started before and they not keeping Machar safe, but instead infuriating his troops and his commander. This fragile situation is only getting more torn. That’s what should frighten the President and his government. However, it seems like his thriving on it. Peace.



















