Raila Odinga, the former Kenyan Prime Minister, traveled to Juba, South Sudan, on Friday for a meeting with President Salva Kiir. His visit was part of an IGAD mission aimed at assessing the political situation in the country.
However, during his visit, Raila did not reach out to Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President and leader of the armed opposition in the unity government, who was placed under house arrest earlier in the week.
After his meeting with President Kiir, Raila addressed the press, stating that their discussion was productive and focused on the country’s political crisis.
He acknowledged that the ongoing tensions, especially concerning Machar’s detention, had worsened the situation. Despite only engaging one side of the conflict, Raila expressed optimism that a resolution could be found.
He added that he would brief regional leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, on his mission and propose a roadmap toward peace and stability in South Sudan.The South Sudanese government has accused Machar of attempting to incite rebellion and destabilize the country.
On Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei claimed that intelligence reports had linked Machar to efforts to recruit his SPLA-IO fighters to create chaos. This led to his detention on Wednesday. In response, the SPLA-IO announced that Machar’s arrest signaled the collapse of the fragile peace deal signed in 2018.
The situation has raised alarm among international organizations and foreign governments.The United Nations, African Union, IGAD, and several Western diplomatic missions have called for Machar’s immediate release and for the full implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged President Kiir to free Machar and restore the unity government formed under the peace accord.
The African Union also responded, with its chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stating that the A.U. Panel of the Wise, led by retired Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, would be deployed to mediate the crisis.
Several Western nations have also weighed in. Diplomatic representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and the European Union issued a joint statement on Thursday demanding Machar’s release.
IGAD, the regional body mediating South Sudan’s peace efforts, also raised concerns, warning that Machar’s detention could further destabilize the country and undo years of fragile progress.
The worsening security situation has already had international consequences. Germany and Norway have closed their embassies in Juba, while the United States and the United Kingdom have scaled back their diplomatic presence.
The uncertainty surrounding Machar’s fate and the broader political crisis has deepened fears that South Sudan could slide back into full-scale conflict, threatening the stability of the region.
