Riek Machar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riek Machar
Machar in 2012
1st & 4th First Vice President of South Sudan
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 February 2020
President	Salva Kiir Mayardit
Preceded by	Taban Deng Gai
In office 26 April 2016 – 23 July 2016
President	Salva Kiir Mayardit
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Taban Deng Gai
1st Vice President of South Sudan
In office 9 July 2011 – 23 July 2013
President	Salva Kiir Mayardit
Preceded by	Himself (as Vice President of Southern Sudan)
Succeeded by	James Wani Igga
2nd Vice President of Southern Sudan
In office 11 August 2005 – 9 July 2011
President	Salva Kiir Mayardit
Preceded by	Salva Kiir Mayardit
Succeeded by	Himself (as Vice President of South Sudan)
Personal details
Born	Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (1952-11-26) 26 November 1952 (age 72) Leer, Upper Nile, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now South Sudan)
Nationality	South Sudanese
Political party	Sudan People's Liberation Movement
Other political affiliations	Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition
Spouses	Emma McCune ​ ​ (m. 1991; died 1993)​ Angelina Teny
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Khartoum University of Bradford
Nickname	SENNAR
Military service
Allegiance	SPLA, SPLA-Nasir, SPLA-IO
Battles/wars	Second Sudanese Civil War South Sudanese Civil War

Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (born 26 November 1952) is a South Sudanese politician. He has served as the vice president of South Sudan many times. Most recently, he became the first vice president in 2020.

Machar is a member of the Nuer ethnic group. He studied engineering at Khartoum University and the University of Bradford. In 1984, he joined a group called the Sudanese People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLM/A). This group was fighting for southern independence during the Second Sudanese Civil War.

In 1991, Machar left the SPLM/A after disagreements with its leader, John Garang. He then started his own group, the SPLA-Nasir. Later that year, his forces were involved in a tragic event in Bor. Over the next few years, Machar led several different groups. These included the SPLA-United and the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A). He also led the South Sudan Defence Forces (SSDF) and the Sudan People's Defense Forces/Democratic Front (SPDF). In 2002, he rejoined Garang and the SPLM/A.

The Second Sudanese Civil War ended in 2005. After this, Machar became Vice President of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region. Salva Kiir Mayardit was the President. South Sudan became an independent country in 2011. Machar then became Vice President of the new country, with Kiir as President.

Political Journey

In February 2020, Machar was sworn in again as first vice president. This happened after a new peace agreement with Salva Kiir, who is the current President of South Sudan. Machar also leads a group called SPLM-IO (Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition). This group was formed in 2014 after a war started in 2013. It has often been in opposition to President Kiir.

From April to July 2016, Machar also served as the First Vice President of South Sudan. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in September 2018. This agreement said that Dr. Riek Machar would become First Vice President when a new unity government was formed. This was first planned for February 2019, but it was delayed until February 2020.

Machar earned a PhD in strategic planning in 1984. He then joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005). In 1991, Machar had a disagreement with the SPLM/A leader John Garang. He then formed a separate group called the SPLM/A-Nasir.

In 1997, Machar signed a peace treaty with the government of Sudan. He became an assistant to Omar el-Bashir, who was the President of Sudan. He also became the commander of the South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF). This group included many former rebels who had signed the peace agreement. In 2000, he left the SSDF and formed a new group, the Sudan People's Defense Forces/Democratic Front (SPDF). In 2002, he rejoined the SPLA/M as a senior commander.

After John Garang passed away in July 2005, Machar became vice-president of Southern Sudan, which was an independent region at the time. On July 9, 2011, South Sudan became a fully independent country. Machar became its vice-president. However, President Salva Kiir Mayardit removed him from office on July 23, 2013. Machar was re-appointed as First Vice-president of South Sudan on February 22, 2020. This was part of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

Early Life and Education

Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon was born in Leer, Unity State on November 26, 1952. He was the 27th son of the chief of Ayod and Leer. He grew up as a member of the Presbyterian church. Machar belongs to the Dok section of the Nuer Bentiu people.

He trained as an engineer at Khartoum University. He earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bradford in 1984.

Machar married Emma McCune, a British aid worker. She passed away in a car accident in Nairobi in 1993. Machar's second wife, Angelina Teny, is also a well-known politician in South Sudan. She served as the state minister of Energy and Mining from 2005 to 2010.

Joining the Movement

Machar was a leader with the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLM/A) from 1984. This group was led by John Garang. Machar disagreed with Garang in 1991. As a commander, he made an agreement with Baggara chiefs in 1986.

In 1989, Machar led forces that attacked and took control of Melut. That year, he was able to visit his family in Britain for the first time since the civil war began. In 1990, Machar was based in Leer. Later, he became the SPLA Regional Commander for a large area.

Machar and John Garang had different ideas about their goals. Garang initially wanted a united Sudan that was secular and democratic. He believed southerners should have full representation. Machar, however, wanted South Sudan to be completely independent.

In August 1991, Riek Machar, Lam Akol, and Gordon Kong announced that John Garang had been removed from the SPLM. This new group was called the SPLM/A-Nasir faction from 1991 to 1993. It was based in Nasir and later in Waat and Ayod.

In September 1993, President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya held separate talks with Garang and Riek Machar. In October 1993, the US Congress hosted a meeting between them. They seemed to agree on a ceasefire and reconciliation. They also agreed on self-determination and opposing the Khartoum government. However, Machar questioned Garang's authority and did not sign a joint statement. Machar removed Lam Akol from the SPLA-United in February 1994.

From 1994 to 1997, Machar's group was known as the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A). This group sought independence for South Sudan. It received secret support from the government of Sudan. It fought the SPLA between 1991 and 1999. These fights became more violent and were often based on ethnic differences.

In 1996, Machar signed a Political Charter. In 1997, he signed the Khartoum Peace Agreement with the government. Under this agreement, he became an assistant to Omar el-Bashir, the President of Sudan. He also became President of the Southern States Coordinating Council. He was made commander in chief of the South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF). This group included most of the former rebels who had signed the Khartoum agreement.

Returning to the SPLM

There was growing tension between Riek Machar and Paulino Matip's South Sudan Unity Movement (SSUM). Matip's group was involved in forcing civilians out of the Block 5A oil area. They also helped clear other oil areas. In 1998–1999, Matip's fighters and government troops clashed with Machar's SSDF forces. They were fighting for control of the oilfields in Unity state.

Machar's inability to stop the government from moving civilians from oil-producing areas made the Nuer people turn against his leadership. Machar's SSDF started receiving ammunition from the SPLA in June 1999. In 2000, at a meeting in Koch, he resigned from the government of Sudan. He then created a new group called the Sudan People's Defense Forces/Democratic Front (SPDF).

In January 2002, he signed an agreement with John Garang. This agreement merged the SPDF into the SPLA. Machar was given command of the Dok Nuer within the SPLA.

The civil war ended in January 2005. In August, Machar became Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan. He also became SPLM Co-chair of the Joint Executive Political Committee. When South Sudan became independent in July 2011, he was appointed first vice president of the new country. On July 15, 2011, Machar represented South Sudan at the ceremony where his country's flag was raised at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

South Sudan Politics

Machar with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague in London in January 2013

After South Sudan gained independence in 2011, Machar was the country's vice president. In 2012, he publicly apologized for his role in the Bor events. This was as he prepared to potentially lead the SPLM.

By February 2013, Machar openly stated his wish to challenge President Kiir. In July 2013, he and the entire cabinet were removed from office. Machar said that Kiir's action was a step towards dictatorship. These events then led to the South Sudanese Civil War.

After the civil war began, Machar sought help from arms dealers in Europe to arm his forces. Not much is known about these dealers. One known person was Pierre Dadak, an arms dealer from France and Poland. When he was arrested in Ibiza on July 14, 2016, he was negotiating to sell Machar many weapons.

Return to Vice-Presidency

In late August 2015, the government and Machar's rebel group signed a peace agreement. This agreement stated that Riek Machar would become vice-president again. In April 2016, as part of the peace deal, Machar returned to Juba. He was sworn in as vice-president.

However, Machar left the capital after new fighting broke out in Juba in July 2016. This fighting was between people loyal to Kiir and people loyal to Machar. President Kiir gave Machar 48 hours to return to Juba to continue peace talks. When Machar did not return, the SPLA-IO in Juba chose Taban Deng Gai to replace Machar. The government accepted Gai as acting vice-president. Machar stated that any talks would be illegal because he had removed Gai from his position.

After 2017

In October 2017, Machar was under house arrest in South Africa. His house arrest ended in March 2018. Machar's confinement in South Africa was also criticized by the media. Machar returned to Juba in October 2018 after a peace deal was signed in September 2018.

As of May 2019, he was living in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. This was due to a six-month delay in putting a power-sharing deal into action. This deal was supposed to start on May 12, 2019. Machar was appointed First Vice-president of South Sudan on February 22, 2020. This was part of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity. On May 18, 2020, Machar and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. In 2021, he suggested that the 2023 South Sudanese general election might be delayed.

Events in 2025

Before his arrest, Machar wrote an open letter. In it, he spoke against Ugandan troops being in South Sudan. He said their presence went against the 2018 peace agreement and put it in danger. Foreign Policy magazine suggested this letter might have led to his arrest.

According to his party, SPLM-IO, on March 26, 2025, Machar was placed under house arrest. His wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny, was also arrested. An armed group led by top government officials entered his home in Juba. Their guards were disarmed and taken to an unknown place. The party said that the 2018 peace agreement with the government was now effectively cancelled. On March 28, the South Sudanese government announced that Machar was under house arrest. However, on March 31, President Salva Kiir Mayardit's press secretary said that this description was "unfounded" and "does not accurately depict the reality of the situation."

Foreign Policy wrote that Machar had been effectively stripped of his power.

The South Sudanese government accused Machar of planning a rebellion. They said he was trying to start a civil war to stop the upcoming national elections. The government announced an investigation into the SPLM-IO and Machar. They also denied that the peace agreement was cancelled. Machar had been suspected of supporting the Nuer White Army in its fight against the South Sudanese military. This group had attacked and taken over a military base earlier in March. This happened during increasing tensions. The SPLM-IO denied any current links with the White Army. They had been allied with them during the South Sudanese Civil War.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has stated that the reported arrest "might lead the country to the brink of civil war."

See also

In Spanish: Riek Machar para niños

• Ethnic violence in South Sudan
• Dinka-Nuer conflict