SOUTH SUDAN: Tensions Escalate In Juba Following Arrest Of Senior SPLM-IO Officers

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

Tensions have surged in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, following the arrest of four high-ranking military officers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) at the army headquarters, a senior party source has disclosed.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, identified the detained officers as Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces for Operations, Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe, and two other unnamed officers.

The arrests are believed to be connected to recent clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and armed youth in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.

The situation has been described as “tense,” despite a high-level SPLM-IO leadership meeting in Juba on Monday, which aimed to address ongoing conflict in Nasir and other regions.

The source also pointed out broader concerns in areas housing SPLA-IO forces, such as Abyei, Twic, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Nasir.

These areas have hosted military personnel for over a decade, leading to growing tensions between local communities and the armed forces.

“There are frequent conflicts between the residents and the military forces. At times, these tensions result in violence. The lack of unified forces in these areas has further fueled division,” the official explained.

In response to the arrests, Ter Manyang Gatwech, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, called on President Salva Kiir to release the detained officers.

He warned that the arrests could undermine the fragile peace in South Sudan.

“The Center for Peace and Advocacy urges President Salva Kiir, as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately release Gen.

Duop Lam, who was arrested at around 11 a.m. in Bilpam, along with his bodyguard, and transferred to the Tiger Headquarters,” Gatwech told African Culture TV.

Gatwech further linked the arrests to the capture of Nasir by the White Army, a youth militia group, and expressed concerns that the situation could escalate, worsening South Sudan’s international reputation.

“People are exhausted by the endless war; it’s time to shift the conversation to development. We cannot continue down this destructive path,” Gatwech added.

These arrests come at a critical moment for South Sudan’s peace process, raising alarm about the potential for further instability if the situation is not swiftly addressed.