South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The government said on Friday that First Vice President, Riek Machar, currently under house arrest will be investigated over claims that he instigated his forces to rebel against the government to disrupt peace.
“Since the beginning of March, 2025 and according to intelligence and security reports, Dr.Riek Machar, the First Vice President, Chairman and C-in-C of the SPLA-IO, had been in contact with his bases on the ground and specifically with the politicians and commanders of SPLA-IO agitating them to rebel against the government with the aim of disrupting peace, so that elections are not held and South Sudan goes back to war,” said Michael Makuei Lueth, the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services at a press conference in Juba
Makuei disclosed that President Salva Kiir Mayardit, ordered the arrest of Machar pending investigations into his alleged actions.
He revealed that Gen.Yiey Dak from National Security Services, Gen. Wesley Welebe from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), Pal Mai Deng, the Minister of Water and Irrigation and Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the First Deputy Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly have all vanished in the aftermath of the crackdown on SPLM-IO party officials.
“We will not go back to war, but we will continue with the implementation of the agreement. Those who have been dreaming and trying their level best to ensure that the agreement will collapse, this agreement will not collapse,” said Makuei.
He also said that the SPLA-IO forces who were already among the unified forces have attacked their colleagues who were trained and deployed with them in Tonga, Nyaluak, Wunkur,Wathlel and Rejaf.
Makuei said that intelligence reports revealed Machar, had been in contact with his forces prior to the attacks by the White Army militia and SPLA-IO soldiers on the SSPDF garrison in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
“The SPLM/A-IO continues to mobilize and preach hate speech, hatred, and tribalism in the name of protection of the Nuer land. Dr. Machar and his anti-peace colleagues of the SPLM/A-IO who are under arrest will be investigated and brought to book accordingly,” he disclosed.
In addition, Makuei revealed that SPLA-IO soldiers in the training center of Gut-Makur, withdrew to an unknown destination.
“Dr. Machar is under house arrest and he will be subjected to investigation, and it is the investigation that will prove his innocence or his guilt. The outcome of the investigation will be known to you,” he said.
