South Sudanese officials told an African Union Peace and Security Council delegation on Monday that the prolonged detention of First Vice President Riek Machar is a criminal matter, not a political one, despite mounting criticism over due process violations.

Machar, President Salva Kiir’s longtime rival and leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), has been under house arrest since March 26. Kiir’s order cited Machar’s alleged involvement in violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State—a claim Machar’s supporters reject as politically motivated.

Under South Sudanese law, detainees must be brought before a court within 24 hours of arrest. Pretrial detention cannot exceed six months without a court order. Yet Machar remains confined without formal charges, raising concerns about the government’s adherence to legal standards.

Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, chairman of the high-level ad hoc committee overseeing the 2018 peace agreement, defended the detention during a briefing to the AU Peace and Security Council in Juba on Monday.

“On the issue of Dr. Riek, we said the procedures are underway. It is not a political detention; it is a criminal procedure,” Kuol said. “It is a normal procedure taken when somebody is suspected of a crime because it is connected to the deaths of soldiers in Nasir and fighting in other areas. This is how we explained the situation to them.”

Kuol, who also heads the National Transitional Committee and serves as a senior presidential advisor, insisted that security arrangements under the 2018 peace deal are progressing. He said a second batch of unified forces will begin training in September and deploy by November.

“After that, the security forces will become one body under one commander-in-chief and can be deployed across the country,” he said, adding that this would pave the way for elections by late 2026.

Opposition Dismisses Claims

Juol Nhomngek Daniel, a senior SPLM-IO official, sharply criticized Gen. Kuol’s remarks, calling the detention of his leader a politically motivated maneuver.

“It is now very clear that the SPLM-IG’s government conspired to involve His Excellency President Kiir in a baseless case,” Nhomngek said. “They are stuck, unwilling to publicly acknowledge their costly mistake.”

He accused government officials of disregarding legal ethics and perpetuating tribalism.

“It is sad to see individuals with legal backgrounds speaking as if they are ordinary villagers,” Nhomngek said. “Law teaches us to defend the truth without fear or favor. The way some officials discuss criminal law is embarrassing and shows the highest level of ignorance.”

Nhomngek singled out Kuol, a respected veteran leader, for what he called a personal vendetta.

“His statement shows he is not working to help the president but to settle a grudge against Dr. Machar from the liberation struggle,” he said. “We must be guided by justice.”

AU Team Meets Kiir

Separately, the AU Peace and Security Council delegation met with President Kiir to discuss rising tensions and delays in the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, which ended a five-year civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people.

Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba described the talks as “successful,” saying Kiir reaffirmed his commitment to the peace deal.

Dr. Mohammed Khaled, Algeria’s ambassador to Ethiopia and head of the delegation, said the council sought to assess challenges facing the peace process in South Sudan.

“We came here to listen and see how we can work together for the fulfilment of the peace process,” he said.

The visiting delegation, led by Dr. Mohammed Khaled, Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and current Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council, is expected to conclude its three-day visit to South Sudan on Tuesday. Radio Tamazuj