The situation in Juba – South Sudan is escalating. Yesterday, on March 26th, Vice President Riek Machar was placed on house arrest, further escalating a new clash between him and President Salva Kiir (see Fides, 5/3/2025).
According to his party, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), Machar, his wife and two bodyguards are being held at home for allegedly involved in a recent clash between the army and white militia in Nasir, Upper Nile Province, Nile.
On the day of Machar’s arrest, artillery fired in areas around the capital Juba. The recent heights of tension have prompted several embassies in Juba to ask its citizens to leave South Sudan (the US embassy has kept staff to a minimum).
“This is not a time of meaningless war. Instead, politicians must engage in peace dialogues to develop an atmosphere of unity and address the challenges faced by the public.”
The Council of Evangelical Churches (CEOFSS) in South Sudan “seek for an impartial investigation into the root causes of these conflicts, if it is determined that someone should be taken to court for the sake of justice.”
The CEOFSS also “expresses concerns about the existence of foreign troops in South Sudan, encourages resolution of security concerns through diplomatic involvement, and ensures that national sovereignty and stability are supported.” In addition to the political conflict between two “strong” who have been competing for power since the country’s independence, South Sudan is torn apart by joint and tribal conflicts that contribute to the nation’s unrest. In this context, CEOFSS notes that “comprehensive violence remains an immediate issue, including conflicts between farmers and pursuers, including the theft of Warlap and John Ray’s cattle.”
