By The 2018 peace agreement held in Khartoum mediated by President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda majorly recommended a unilateral cease-fire and a unitary government.
It called for building a “national army, police, and other security organs of an all-inclusive character that shall be free from tribalism and ethnic affiliations.” It depicted that efforts to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and basic services “shall be intensified.”
It furthermore meant that the government of Sudan ensured the security of South Sudan’s contested oil fields in the north of the country, encouraging the two governments to work to rehabilitate the oil fields and resume production, with the proceeds to be used “to improve the livelihood of South Sudanese and to alleviate poverty and suffering.”
However with today’s (27th March 2025) arrest of Vice President Dr Reik Machar South Sudan’s fragile peace agreement has collapsed, according to the main opposition party, following the arrest of its leader Riek Machar on Thursday 27th March 2025. The party’s deputy chairperson, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, stated that Machar’s arrest demonstrates a lack of political goodwill to achieve peace and stability.
The United Nations had warned of a renewed civil war on Monday, citing fighting between government forces and an armed group allied to Machar in the north. After Machar’s arrest, the UN intensified its warning, stating that the country was now closer to collapsing into civil war and dismantling the peace agreement.
The international community is calling for restraint, with the UN urging leaders to put the interest of the people first and foremost. The US, Kenya, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have also joined in, calling for calm and an end to escalating tensions.
Machar’s arrest has sparked widespread concern, with many fearing that the country is on the brink of a renewed civil war. The peace agreement, signed in 2018, brought an end to the five-year conflict that claimed 400,000 lives.
Tensions have been escalating between President Salva Kiir and Machar’s parties, particularly after the White Army, an armed group loyal to Machar, attacked an army base in Upper Nile state and a UN helicopter. The government responded with airstrikes, resulting in over a dozen deaths since mid-March.
Machar’s arrest has been described by many analysts as a “grave violation” of the peace deal, with his supporters condemning the action. The opposition leader was arrested alongside his wife, with 20 heavily armed vehicles arriving at his home. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered under unclear charges.
The situation in South Sudan remains volatile, with the international community calling for restraint and adherence to the peace agreement. The country’s future hangs in the balance, as its leaders face a critical choice between peace and conflict.
