The UN has urged all parties to honor the 2018 peace agreement, which ended South Sudan's devastating five-year civil war that claimed 400,000 lives.
According to AP, Machar's arrest was confirmed by opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng, who stated that Machar is currently "in confinement by the government" and that his life is at risk.
The arrest follows increased hostilities between the opposition and government forces, particularly in the northern region, where an armed group loyal to Machar clashed with government troops.
Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, called for restraint from all sides and emphasized the importance of adhering to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, which brought Machar and President Salva Kiir together in a unity government.
Tensions between the two leaders have been mounting, particularly after the White Army, an armed group loyal to Machar, overran a military base in Upper Nile state in March and attacked a UN helicopter.
The government's response included airstrikes and warnings for civilians in the area to evacuate or face consequences. Since mid-March, over a dozen people have died, and the UN has raised alarms over the risk of a return to civil war.
In an update on Machar's arrest, opposition official Reath Muoch Tang reported that 20 heavily armed vehicles arrived at Machar's home, where he was detained along with his wife.
His bodyguards were reportedly disarmed, and an arrest warrant was presented, though the charges remain unclear.
The UN has warned that South Sudan's leaders now face a critical choice: either to risk plunging the country back into widespread conflict or to work toward peace, recovery, and democracy in line with the 2018 agreement.
IGIHE
