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South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar Arrested

"We strongly condemn the unconstitutional actions taken today by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of National Security, who, alongside more than 20 heavily armed vehicles, forcefully entered the residence of the First Vice President."

By Nebianet Usaini
Updated March 26, 2025
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(FILES) South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar (L) arrives for the third round of Sudanese peace talks in Juba, South Sudan, on December 10, 2019. South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar, the long-time rival to President Salva Kiir, was arrested on March 26, 2025, a move described by the UN as leaving the country on the brink of widespread conflict. A convoy of 20 heavily armed vehicles entered Machar’s residence in the capital Juba and arrested him, according to a statement issued by a member of his party, in a dramatic escalation of a conflict that has been building for weeks in the world’s youngest country. (Photo by Alex McBride / AFP)

 

 

South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar, the long-time rival to President Salva Kiir, was arrested at his compound in Juba, according to a statement shared Wednesday by his party’s foreign relations committee chairman.

“We strongly condemn the unconstitutional actions taken today by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of National Security, who, alongside more than 20 heavily armed vehicles, forcefully entered the residence of the First Vice President. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges,” said the statement, shared on Facebook by Reath Muoch Tang.

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