In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in South Sudan, the United States has issued a strong call for President Salva Kiir to release First Vice President Riek Machar from what his party has described as house arrest. This urgent plea comes as the United Nations raised alarms over the country teetering on the edge of civil war.

Reports emerged on Wednesday from Machar's Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) party, claiming that government forces, including the defense minister and chief of national security, forcibly entered Machar’s residence to deliver an arrest warrant. This unprovoked action has raised significant concerns about the fragile peace established by a deal that ended a brutal civil war between Kiir and Machar's factions from 2013 to 2018.

According to Reath Muoch Tang, a senior official in Machar's party, the First Vice President and his wife are currently being held at their home, facing accusations of supporting the White Army militia—an outlawed faction that has recently clashed with government forces in Nasir, Upper Nile State. These tensions threaten to undermine the peace agreement that has kept Kiir and Machar in a tenuous coalition government.

In a statement on the social media platform X, the Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over the situation. “We urge President Kiir to reverse this action and prevent further escalation of the situation,” the Bureau stated, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue in a region plagued by violence and political instability.

Heavily armed troops were reported to be stationed around Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, with a noticeable decrease in civilian activity, including the closure of local shops and reduced traffic on Thursday morning, according to RNG247 reporters on the ground.

The specter of renewed conflict looms large as the United Nations warns that violence in Nasir, compounded by a worrying rise in hate speech, could ignite ethnic tensions and rekindle civil war. While the SPLM-IO has denied any ongoing affiliations with the White Army, the U.S. has called for South Sudan's leaders to exhibit genuine commitment to peace and reconciliation.

Political analysts suggest that Kiir, now 73, may be solidifying his power by targeting some of Machar’s key allies, inviting the Ugandan military to bolster security in the capital, and appointing advisor Benjamin Bol Mel as the new second vice president. Bol Mel is a businessman facing U.S. sanctions for his connections to companies accused of money-laundering, leading to speculation about Kiir’s intentions regarding succession.

As South Sudan sits precariously on the brink of further violence, the international community watches closely, hoping for a return to peace and stability in a nation long scarred by conflict.