The recent arrest of South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has plunged the nation deeper into turmoil and effectively dismantled the fragile peace deal established in 2018, according to his political party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM/IO).

Late Wednesday, an armed convoy, including high-ranking security officials and the defense minister, stormed Machar's residence in Juba, disarming his bodyguards and taking him into custody. His wife, Angelina Teny, who serves as the country's interior minister, was also detained during the raid.

“The arrest of H.E Dr Riek Machar signifies the collapse of the peace agreement,” declared SPLM/IO deputy leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino at a press conference. The government of South Sudan has remained silent regarding Machar's situation, intensifying fears of another civil war.

The United Nations has expressed grave concerns that South Sudan is on the verge of descending into chaos again. The ongoing tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir, which have intensified over recent weeks, could lead to heightened violence in a country that has already suffered immensely, with nearly 400,000 lives lost in the five-year civil war that the 2018 agreement aimed to resolve.

Pierino emphasized that Machar's detainment “abrogates” the already delicate peace deal, putting the country's stability at serious risk. Those in Juba have echoed similar fears as military forces surround Machar's home, fueling anxiety among residents. “There is a high chance of full-scale war, which could be deadlier and more violent due to a thirst for revenge,” one local resident warned.

Despite the escalating danger, Pierino appealed for calm among SPLM/IO members and the broader public while diplomatic efforts seek to address this critical situation. Reath Muoch Tang, head of the party’s foreign relations committee, reported that security officials initially attempted to remove Machar from his home without clear legal grounds, presenting an “arrest warrant under questionable charges,” which he termed as a “blatant violation” of both the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) reiterated that the country stands at a precipice, with potential for widespread conflict resuming. “The world’s newest nation risks losing the hard-won gains of the past seven years if it slips back into war,” the mission warned, emphasizing that violations of the 2018 peace agreement would have devastating effects not only on South Sudan but could also destabilize the entire region.

In response to these growing tensions, both the British and US embassies have reduced their diplomatic personnel and advised their citizens to evacuate. The Norwegian and German embassies have ceased operations in Juba, indicating a serious international concern regarding South Sudan's future as renewed clashes erupt between forces loyal to Machar and Kiir, particularly seen in the northern town of Nasir, an area crucial for its oil resources.

With the situation in South Sudan rapidly deteriorating, the world watches with bated breath as key players in the government navigate a precarious path that could lead to either a return to peace or a steep slide into renewed violence.