South Sudan's Vice President Arrested

South Sudanese security forces have arrested and forcibly detained Vice President Riek Machar.

According to reports, Machar, the First Vice President, was taken into custody after the Minister of Defense and the Head of National Security entered his residence without permission and presented him with an arrest warrant.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) National Congress Party (NCP) strongly condemned this action, viewing it as a blatant violation of both the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement (RPA), which was instrumental in ending the civil war from 2013 to 2018 that pitted Machar's forces against those loyal to President Salva Kiir.

A statement from the party indicated that Machar's bodyguards were disarmed, and the reasons for his arrest remain unclear. The party also noted that there were efforts to move him to a different location.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) quickly issued a warning, stating that this development places the nation on the brink of war and urged all parties to maintain restraint.