Where is the South Sudanese, First Vice president Dr Riek Machar? Is he missing? Is he alive?
While reports from Juba say he is being imprisoned under ‘House Arrest,’ there are already speculations trying to insinuate that the charismatic politician could have been harmed by government agencies.
In their recently issued, joint statement, the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) have tasked the South Sudan Government to release Machar.
But last week, some information coming from South Sudan revealed secret plans to have Vice President Riek Machar Teny moved from Juba and transferred to a​ secret place in Uganda, where he is to be marooned far from home.
On the other hand, some people in South Sudan are wondering if Dr Machar is still alive.
Recently, state organs confiscated all the mobile phones, computers and other communication devices from Angelina Teny the wife of Riek Machar, who also happens to be a Minister in South Sudan.
Mrs Machar has now been rendered helplessly, without and means of communication, remaining under tight surveillance.
However, in the midst of it all, the four international bodies have just released their joint statement, warning of the escalating political and security crisis in South Sudan and demanding the immediate release of the First Vice President of the country, Dr Riek Machar, and a number of other opposition leaders currently being held.
They described this step as “critical” to restarting the stalled political process.
The joint UN, AU, IGAD and R-JMEC statement warned against the continuation of military clashes, attacks on civilians and infrastructure, as well as the rise in hate speech, which threatens to undermine the fragile 2018 peace agreement.
The four entities affirmed that “a military solution is not viable,” calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the acceleration of the implementation of the agreement’s provisions, including neutral investigations into recent violence violations.
The statement also emphasized that the release of political detainees is “a fundamental condition for restoring trust between the parties” and paving the way for fair elections by the end of the transitional period. It noted that the political deadlock is exacerbating humanitarian suffering and food insecurity.
This statement comes amid rising tensions in South Sudan, which has witnessed escalating violence between government forces and armed groups in various areas of Upper Nile and Warrap states over recent months, despite regional and international efforts to contain the crisis.
The Tripartite Mechanism (UN, AU, and IGAD) had previously played a pivotal role in mediation.
The statement concluded by calling for “united regional and international efforts” to support comprehensive dialogue, stressing that the stability of South Sudan is “key to the security of the entire Horn of Africa.”