Watchdog warns arrests and detentions threatens South Sudan’s fragile peace

JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has raised alarm over the growing trend of political arrests and detentions in Juba, warning that it poses a serious threat to South Sudan’s fragile transition process.

In a statement on Friday, CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani described the wave of detentions as “disturbing,” saying it undermines the country’s efforts toward a peaceful political transition.

He urged South Sudan’s leaders to engage sincerely with faith-based figures in addressing the crisis.

“Our political leaders have a high deficit in trust and confidence for working together to transition the country from violence to peace,” Yakani said. “The culture of sorting political differences through violence instead of dialogue seems to be the dominating political culture.”

Yakani cited recent outbreaks of violence in Tombura, Nasir, and Jur River counties as alarming developments that could derail the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“The failure of R-ARCSS is now possible, and this means the country will return to war,” he warned, adding that distrust among the country’s leadership is a major obstacle to a peaceful transition.

The warning from CEPO comes as fighting escalates in Nasir County between armed youth known as the White Army and government forces.

Earlier today, Major General David Majur Dak, the commander of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Nasir, was killed while attempting to board a United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) helicopter arranged for his evacuation.

The attack occurred after the White Army took control of the town, further complicating the already fragile security situation in Jonglei State.

President Salva Kiir, in a speech today, confirmed the killing of the general and his officers, saying their evacuation mission was met with heavy fire despite prior assurances of safe passage. Kiir urged the nation to remain calm, emphasizing that his government remains committed to peace and stability.

“I have said time and again that our country will not go back to war. Let no one take the law into their hands,” Kiir said.

He assured the public that his government would handle the crisis and expressed condolences to the families of those killed.

CEPO welcomed the swift intervention of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which sent its special envoy to South Sudan in an effort to de-escalate rising tensions between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Yakani, however, warned against the growing trend of political actors using proxy wars to advance their interests, stressing that this tactic could plunge the country further into instability.

“The political game of proxy war will hold this country hostage to violence if it is not stopped,” he said.

CEPO urged President Salva Kiir to ensure the immediate release of detained SPLM-IO officials and officers, emphasizing that their safety and security should be guaranteed.

The civil society group also called for urgent engagement from IGAD, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to prevent further political deterioration.

“African Union Peace and Security Council should hold an urgent meeting on South Sudan’s negative political situation before it is too late,” Yakani stressed.