Tensions have escalated in Juba following the arrest of four senior SPLM-IO military officers linked to recent clashes in Nasir County. Despite leadership discussions aimed at conflict resolution, broader tensions persist in regions hosting SPLA-IO forces. Advocacy leaders call for the release of the detainees, warning that their continued detention could undermine fragile peace efforts in South Sudan.
Tensions have significantly increased in Juba, South Sudan, following the arrest of four senior military officers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) at the army headquarters. A senior party member disclosed the identities of the detained officers, which include Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces for Operation, and Lt Gen Wesley Welebe, among others. Their arrests are reportedly connected to recent violent clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and armed youth in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The arrested officers’ situation has been described as “tense” by the anonymous source, despite an ongoing high-level SPLM-IO leadership meeting aimed at addressing conflicts in Nasir and other regions. This unrest is reflective of broader tensions affecting regions housing SPLA-IO forces, such as Abyei, Twic, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Nasir, where relations between local residents and armed personnel have been increasingly strained over the past decade.
Local conflicts have arisen, exacerbating tensions, as residents and armed forces struggle to establish a unified front. A senior SPLM-IO official stated, “There are conflicts and problems between the residents and the forces. Sometimes, they fight at home,” illustrating the urgent need for cohesion among the various entities in these areas.
In response to the arrests, Ter Manyang Gatwech, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has urged President Salva Kiir to release the detained officers. He warned that continuing their detention could jeopardize the fragile peace in South Sudan, stating that “the Centre for Peace and Advocacy appeals to the President of the Republic and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Salva Kiir Mayardit, to release Gen Duop Lam.”
Gatwech further connected these arrests to recent hostilities involving the White Army, a youth militia group, emphasizing the potential for escalated violence, which could harm South Sudan’s international reputation. He asserted that the public is weary of prolonged conflict and expressed a desire to focus on development, stating, “People are tired of war; we need to talk about development. People cannot go on doing bad things always.”
The arrests have heightened concerns regarding the stability of South Sudan’s peace process, with calls for immediate dialogue to avert further deterioration of the situation.
The arrest of senior SPLM-IO officers in Juba has heightened tensions across South Sudan, sparking concerns about the stability of the nation’s ongoing peace process. The situation highlights long-standing conflicts between local communities and armed forces, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and resolution. Calls from advocacy leaders for the release of detained officers reflect the fragile state of peace in South Sudan, underscoring the general public’s desire for development and stability in the region.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
