South Sudan's Peace Deal Collapses Following Arrest of Vice President

Riek Machar's detention by President Salva Kiir's forces raises fears of renewed civil war, displacing tens of thousands and drawing international calls for restraint.

First Vice President Riek Machar remains under house arrest after being detained by heavily armed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir on March 26, 2025.
Machar's party has declared the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement effectively nullified, citing the arrest as a violation of the deal's terms.
Clashes between government forces and opposition-aligned groups have displaced over 50,000 people, with reports of airstrikes and attacks on civilian areas.
Uganda has deployed troops to support Kiir's government, while international actors, including the UN and Kenya, are mediating to prevent further escalation.
Experts warn of a potential return to widespread ethnic violence and humanitarian catastrophe in the world's youngest nation, with millions already facing acute food insecurity.