In a statement issued Friday, Puok Both Baluang, the acting spokesperson in Machar’s office, said the anniversary reflects a deepening political and security crisis, warning that the 2018 peace agreement is under strain.
“Today marks the first anniversary of the unlawful detention of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, the principal signatory of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” the statement said. “Over the past twelve months, the very foundations of peace in South Sudan have been held hostage.”
Machar, the leader of the SPLM/A-IO, who was arrested on 26th March 2025, is a key figure in the Revitalised Agreement, which ended years of civil war and established a unity government with President Salva Kiir. His detention and ongoing trial have become a major point of contention between the parties to the agreement.
In the statement, Baluang alleged widespread violations of the peace deal, including arrests of opposition figures and attacks on agreed military sites. He claimed that “SPLM/A (IO) leaders and members… have been arbitrarily and unlawfully detained and are being tried in a politically motivated sham court.”
The statement further accused government forces of targeting opposition-controlled areas, alleging that “assembly areas, training centres, and cantonment sites… were systematically attacked and aerially bombarded.” It also made unverified claims that civilians, “especially the Nuer community, were targeted with chemical prohibited weapons.”
There has been no immediate response from government officials to the allegations.
The opposition also criticised what it described as the erosion of power-sharing arrangements under the agreement, accusing the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IG) of taking positions allocated to SPLM-IO.
Baluang urged regional and international actors to intervene, calling for “the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Machar and all other detainees,” arguing that his detention has stalled implementation of the peace process.
“His freedom is not only a matter of personal liberty; it is a prerequisite for restoring the spirit of the agreement and resuming a genuine peace process,” the statement said.
The remarks come amid growing concern over delays in key provisions of the peace deal, including security arrangements, constitutional reforms, and preparations for elections expected in December 2026, while Machar and his co-accused face court trial.
While the government has repeatedly said it remains committed to the peace agreement, tensions between signatories continue to surface, raising fears over the durability of the fragile transitional arrangement.
