Several allies of Vice President Machar arrested as soldiers surround his Juba home in latest threat to 2018 peace deal.

South Sudanese forces have arrested the petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with First Vice President Riek Machar, Machar's spokesperson said on Wednesday, jeopardising a peace deal that ended a five-year civil war.

South Sudan's top oil and gas official has been arrested at home amid concerns that a peace deal struck in 2018 by long time rivals President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar is in danger of unravelling.

South Sudanese forces loyal to President Salva Kiir have released the peacebuilding minister, a key ally of First Vice President Riek Machar, a spokesman for Machar said on Friday, after the arrests of senior officials escalated tensions.

South Sudanese forces loyal to President Salva Kiir continued to round up allies of First Vice President Riek Machar on Thursday, arresting the peacebuilding minister in an escalation of a dispute church leaders warned could lead to a new civil war.

South Sudanese forces have arrested the peacebuilding minister, a spokesman for Vice President Riek Machar said on Thursday, in the latest blow to the country's fragile peace process after the arrests of other senior officials allied with Machar.

South Sudanese forces have arrested a senior military official allied with First Vice President Riek Machar, and deployed troops around Machar's residence, risking a 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war,

- South Sudan President Salva Kiir, left, and First Vice President Riek Machar, right, shake hands after meetings in Juba, South Sudan, Oct. 20, 2019. Kiir appealed for calm after a U.N. helicopter was attacked and a crew member killed during a Friday rescue mission.

South Sudan forces have arrested the oil minister and deputy head of the army, both allies of First Vice-President Riek Machar, as fears grew on Wednesday for the country's fragile

The US is evacuating non-emergency personnel from oil-rich South Sudan amid concerns that Africa’s youngest nation is again on the precipice of civil war.

Juba tense after arrest of opposition politicians, army generals COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | The political situation in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, is tense following the arrest of politicians and to army generals aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar.