The reported house arrest of Riek Machar, the former bush rebel leader who became South Sudan's First Vice President, marks the latest turn in the turbulent relationship with his rival, President Salva Kiir,

Tensions are rising in the oil-rich east African nation of South Sudan after Riek Machar who serves as a vice president was arrested in the capital.

The detention of South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar has effectively collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war, his party said on Thursday.

South Sudan’s main opposition party says a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war has collapsed, following the arrest of its leader Riek Machar a day earlier

South Sudan's independence in 2011 was met with hopes for freedom and democracy. However, political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar has reignited ethnic divisions, threatening stability.

First Vice President Riek Machar reportedly arrested after armed convoy entered his residence in the capital, Juba.

Mr Machar was "in confinement by the government" and his life was "at risk" after "heavily armed vehicles forcefully entered his residence", the party says.

President William Ruto has appointed Raila Odinga to be Kenya's special envoy to South Sudan, where tension has been building up after the arrest of its first VP.