South Sudan's Vice President Detained Amid Escalating Political Tensions**

The arrest of Vice President Riek Machar by the National Security Service raises alarms over the stability of South Sudan and the future of its peace agreement with President Salva Kiir.**

South Sudan is facing a precarious political landscape as Vice President Riek Machar has reportedly been detained by the National Security Service, as confirmed by his political party amid rising tensions. This shocking development, taking place late Wednesday, has prompted concerns from the United Nations that it may jeopardize the fragile peace deal established in 2018, which concluded a devastating five-year conflict resulting in nearly 400,000 deaths.

According to Puok Both Baluang, Machar's acting press secretary, the arrest occurred when high-ranking officials, including the country’s defense minister and chief of national security, arrived at Machar’s residence with an armed convoy. They forcibly disarmed his bodyguards and presented him with an arrest warrant, though the specific charges remain unclear.

The whereabouts of Machar have not been disclosed as of Thursday morning, and both government and opposition representatives have not been readily accessible for comments. Reath Muoch Tang, a senior member of Machar’s party, decried the arrest as a “blatant violation of the Constitution” and stated that it undermines due process and threatens national stability.

The unfolding situation is causing significant concern among international observers, with the U.S. State Department vocalizing its apprehension over Machar’s potential house arrest and urging President Kiir to take immediate action to de-escalate the crisis and adhere to the rule of law.