Reports indicate that South Sudan government forces have surrounded the residence of the nation’s First Vice-President Riek Machar in the capital Juba.
It is however not clear if the Vice President is in the residence.
This development comes 24 hours after the former rebel commander pleaded with regional and international leaders to intervene to put a halt to ongoing bloodshed in Unity and Upper Nile states, which he considers to be his strongholds.
Clashes between the South Sudanese military and Machar’s forces have been reported in various places for weeks, putting the fragile peace accord between him and President Salva Kiir in jeopardy.
The Government is yet to disclose if its forces have surrounded the home of the Vice-President.
It is important to note that key problems like the construction of a unified army, which was agreed in 2018 to end nearly six years of bloodshed, are severely behind schedule.