Juba, August 12, 2025 — South Sudanese officials told a visiting delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council on Monday that the ongoing detention of First Vice President Riek Machar is a “criminal matter” rather than a political one, despite mounting criticism over alleged violations of due process.
Machar, a long-time rival of President Salva Kiir and leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has been under house arrest since March 26. The government accuses him of links to violence in Nasir County in Upper Nile State — claims Machar’s allies dismiss as politically motivated.
Under South Sudanese law, detainees must appear before court within 24 hours, and pre-trial detention without a court order cannot exceed six months. Yet Machar remains confined without formal charges.
Speaking in Juba, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk — senior presidential advisor and chair of the committee overseeing the 2018 peace agreement — defended the arrest before AU delegates, insisting it was a criminal process.
“This is not a political detention. It is a normal criminal procedure when someone is suspected in connection with the killing of soldiers and fighting in Nasir and elsewhere,” Kuol said.
He added that implementation of the security arrangements under the 2018 peace deal was progressing, noting that the second batch of unified forces will begin training in September and deploy by November, paving the way for national elections by late 2026.
Opposition Slams Government
Senior SPLM-IO official Juol Nhomngek Daniel sharply rejected Kuol’s comments, calling the detention a political witch-hunt.
“It is now clear this government fabricated a baseless case against H.E. Machar,” said Nhomngek, accusing officials of ignoring the law and acting out of tribal and personal grudges. “Justice must guide us — not revenge.”
He argued that Kuol, a respected liberation veteran, was using legal language to disguise a political vendetta.
AU Urges Progress in Peace Deal
Separately, the AU Peace and Security Council delegation met President Kiir to discuss growing tensions and delays in implementing the 2018 revitalized peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war which killed an estimated 400,000 people.
Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba described the talks as successful, saying Kiir reaffirmed his commitment to the peace deal.
Dr. Mohammed Khaled, Algeria’s ambassador to Ethiopia and current chair of the council, said the AU was assessing the challenges facing South Sudan’s transition.
“We came to listen and see how we can work together for the fulfillment of the peace process,” Khaled said.
The AU delegation is expected to wrap up its three-day visit on Tuesday.
