Addis Ababa: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expresses alarm over reports of the house arrest of Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of South Sudan, and the escalating political tensions in South Sudan.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, IGAD stated that these developments seriously undermine the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and risk plunging the country back into violent conflict. IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu called on all parties to immediately refrain from unilateral actions that violate the spirit and letter of the R-ARCSS, which remains the only viable framework for sustainable peace in South Sudan.
The statement further warned that the current trajectory, if unchecked, could lead to a collapse of the transitional process and a relapse into full-scale war, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan and the region at large. Gebeyehu referenced the Communique of the 43rd Extraordinary IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government from March 12, 2025, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The Executive Secretary urged all signatories to the Agreement to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize dialogue, and resolve differences through inclusive and peaceful means. He reiterated IGAD’s readiness to support mediation efforts and called upon regional and international partners to reinforce the imperative of preserving peace in South Sudan.