During the week of clashes that took place last week in the strategic town of Nasir in the north, forces of the previous owner of the war, Riek Machar, arrested the minister of oil and several prominent military leaders who participated in the Machar grouping. This may jeopardize the peace agreement, which put an end to the five-year civil war.
The Minister of Oil, Puot Kang Schoul, and the deputy commander of the army, Gabriel Duab Lam, were arrested, at a time when other prominent military figures remain under house arrest. Meanwhile, no charges have been presented.
"So far, we have not been provided with any formal explanation of the arrests," said the spokesperson for Machar.
At the time, police forces surrounded the place where Machar was living, the vice-president was to start work this morning.
After the arrests, the first statement from the government representative was made by Michael Makuei, the Minister of Information. He accused the supporters of Machar of colluding with the army and attacking the military base near Nasir yesterday.
Although Makuei did not comment on the arrests themselves, he stated that President Kiir assured that the country would not return to war.
"The government is working on this situation, and people should not panic or listen to unrealistic or false rumors being spread by the war's enemies and stability," emphasized Makuei.
