South Sudan Vice President's Arrest Deepens Political Crisis

Riek Machar's detention threatens the 2018 peace deal, raising fears of renewed conflict in the fragile nation.

Riek Machar, South Sudan's Vice President, was arrested on March 26, 2025, and remains under house arrest in Juba.
President Salva Kiir ordered the arrest, which was carried out by a heavily armed convoy led by top security officials.
The SPLM-IO has declared that Machar's detention nullifies the 2018 peace agreement, which ended a devastating civil war.
Machar's security detail, including Sudanese intelligence officers, was disarmed and removed during the operation.
The arrest follows weeks of rising tensions marked by armed clashes and political dismissals, exacerbating fears of renewed violence.