The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called for maximum restraint following reports of the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, amid escalating political tensions in the country.
In a statement issued today, IGAD warns that these developments seriously threaten the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and could plunge the nation back into violent conflict.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, referred to the bloc’s Heads of State and Government meeting, held on March 12, 2025, urging all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that undermine the peace agreement.
“The current trajectory, if unchecked, could lead to a collapse of the transitional process and a relapse into full-scale war, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan and the region at large,” Dr. Workneh warned.
The IGAD chief called on all signatories to the R-ARCSS to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize dialogue, and resolve their differences through peaceful and inclusive means. He also promised IGAD’s readiness to mediate and urged regional and international partners to step in and support efforts to preserve peace.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has struggled with political instability and armed conflict, most notably the civil war between 2013 and 2018, which left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions. The 2018 R-ARCSS, brokered with IGAD’s support, established a power-sharing transitional government, but tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar have persisted.
Reports of Machar’s house arrest, though yet to be independently verified, have raised fears of renewed instability. If confirmed, it would mark a significant escalation in political hostilities within the fragile government.
“The people of South Sudan deserve lasting stability, not a return to conflict,” IGAD stated, urging all stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of peace and national unity.
