South Sudan’s Vice President, Gen. Taban Deng Gai, said on Saturday that the 2018 peace agreement remained intact despite the recent house arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, asserting that the matter was a legal issue rather than a political one.
Gai, who chairs the government’s Infrastructure Cluster, made the remarks during a visit to his home state of Unity, where he sought to ease tensions following Dr. Machar’s detention in late March.
President Salva Kiir ordered the house arrest of Dr. Machar, his longtime rival and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), citing alleged involvement in violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
“Let no one think that peace is collapsing because of this,” Gai told a gathering in Rubkona County. “The peace agreement is holding because it was signed by parties to end the war. The arrest of an individual like Dr. Riek Machar is an issue for the law.”
He emphasized that Dr. Machar would undergo legal proceedings, adding, “It is the law that will determine whether he has committed a crime or not.”
Gai, a member of Kiir’s SPLM party, was appointed vice president in 2020 as part of the power-sharing deal that ended a brutal five-year civil war. His visit to Unity State comes amid heightened political and security tensions, with fears that the detention of Dr. Machar—who hails from the state—could reignite conflict.
Speaking to communities in Rubkona and Guit Counties, Gai delivered a message from President Kiir, urging South Sudanese to focus on development rather than conflict.
“Our president has made a clear pledge: We must not see war again,” he said. “The next war should be against underdevelopment, illiteracy, disease and hunger. That is a noble call we must all embrace.”
He also addressed historical grievances and ongoing disputes between local communities, including the Bul, Leek and Jikany Nuer groups, urging them to resolve conflicts through legal channels rather than violence.
“Our local borders remain as of 1956,” he said. “If anyone believes their land is being encroached upon, they should follow legal means instead of promoting hate.”
Gai accused politicians of exploiting ethnic divisions for personal gain, calling on communities to reject such tactics. “These politicians are on both sides, and you must refuse their divisive politics,” he said.
Paramount Chief Chiloak Puok, speaking on behalf of the Leek Nuer community, welcomed Vice President Gai’s message of peace but called for equitable service delivery and the rule of law.
“Tell [President Kiir] he is the president of all tribes in South Sudan,” Chief Puok said. “We will support him in pursuit of peace, but services must flow equally to all areas.”