Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
UN warns detention of Riek Machar risks collapse of South Sudan peace deal
Loading...
Summary
The UN said the reported house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar brings South Sudan closer to collapse and called on leaders to recommit to the revitalized peace agreement to avoid renewed civil war.
The United Nations told staff it is "following with deep concern" reports that First Vice President Riek Machar is under house arrest and warned that the action takes South Sudan a step closer to collapse into civil war and the dismantling of the revitalized peace agreement.
The UN said its peacekeeping mission on the ground called on President and Vice President to resolve their grievances, end military confrontations and uphold the revitalized peace agreement, urging all parties to put the interests of the population first.
The briefing noted that some 9,300,000 people in South Sudan are already in need of humanitarian assistance amid conflict, climate shocks and an economic crisis, and said the UN continues to highlight the suffering of civilians and to press parties to avoid actions that would exacerbate the humanitarian situation.
The UN reiterated calls for the protection of civilians, stressed that civilians are not a target, and said humanitarian actors are working to reach people in need wherever security allows.
