The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has urged restraint and dialogue following the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar, first vice president and opposition leader.
In a statement on Thursday, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu warned that these developments undermine the 2018 peace agreement and risk dragging the country back into conflict.
He reiterated the call for all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that violate the peace agreement, recalling the communiqué of the 43rd Extraordinary IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on March 12, 2025.
“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. Gebeyehu stated, urging “all signatories to the Agreement to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize dialogue, and resolve differences through inclusive and peaceful means.”
The arrest, carried out on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 9:46 PM by senior security personnel from the National Security, Tiger Division, and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces under President Kiir’s directive, also included Machar’s wife, Angelina Teny, Minister of Interior, and his protocol team and close protection guards, leading to SPLM-IO declaring the collapse of the peace agreement.
Dr. Workneh reaffirmed IGAD’s commitment to supporting mediation and urged all stakeholders, along with regional and international partners, to prioritize peace and uphold the R-ARCSS for South Sudan’s stability.