Escalation in South Sudan: Leading politicians arrested
An internal political crisis in South Sudan continues to escalate. Three leading politicians from the SPLM-IO, which is part of the unity government, were arrested, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the party. They include the oil minister, it was reported.
05.03.2025, 16:14
SDA
This brings long-standing tensions within the transitional unity government of the East African country, which has been independent since 2011, to a new high for the time being.
The transitional government of national unity was formed in 2020 as a peace solution after several years of civil war. President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed his former rival Riek Machar, the leader of the SPLM-IO, as his deputy. Originally, elections were to be held in December 2024 for the first time since independence. However, the date was canceled.
According to media reports, security forces also surrounded Vice President Machar's residence on Wednesday. According to observers, the events point to a possible ousting of parts of the unity government.
No official reason was given for the arrests of the three SPLM-IO politicians. However, in the southern Sudanese state of White Nile, a militia of the Nuer ethnic group, to which Machar also belongs, recently took control of an important town on the border with Ethiopia after fighting against government soldiers.
The political rivalries in South Sudan also run along ethnic lines, particularly between the Nuer and the Dinka ethnic group, to which President Kiir belongs.
