Soldiers surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s home in the capital on Wednesday.

The arrests follow intense fighting in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia, a loosely organized group mostly comprising armed Nuer, Machar’s ethnic group.

The White Army fought alongside Machar’s forces in the 2013-2018 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to President Salva Kiir.

Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who hails from Nasir, and the deputy head of the army Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, while all other senior military officials allied with Machar were placed under house arrest, said Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang.

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South Sudanese troops were also deployed around Machar’s residence, although he had been able to travel to his office on Wednesday morning, Baluang said.

The government’s information minister, Michael Makuei, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He said in a statement that he would hold a news conference later on Wednesday.

Reuters/ Shakirat Sadiq