Special envoy to South Sudan, Raila Odinga, has revealed that he was unable to meet with the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, during his recent visit to Juba. Raila had been dispatched by President William Ruto to help mediate tensions following Machar’s arrest amid renewed hostilities between government forces and rebels.
Raila arrived in Juba on Friday with hopes of engaging South Sudanese leadership and facilitating a peaceful resolution to the escalating crisis. However, in a statement on Saturday evening, he disclosed that he was not granted permission to speak with Machar, who remains under house arrest.
“I asked to be allowed to talk to Dr. Machar, but they were not able to let me see him. They recommended that I meet with (Ugandan) President Yoweri Museveni and update him on the situation,” Raila stated.
During his visit, Raila held discussions with South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, who informed him about the death of a general and ten others in Nassir town, an incident which allegedly led to Machar’s detention. Kiir explained that while the authorities had not directly implicated Machar, the militias linked to him were suspected of involvement in the attack.
Following his meeting with Kiir, Raila proceeded to Entebbe, Uganda, where he briefed President Museveni on the situation. Museveni assured Raila that he would reach out to Kiir in an effort to support peace efforts.
Raila underscored the need for international intervention in South Sudan, stating that the ongoing situation demands global attention. “I’m happy that the United Nations is engaged in what’s happening in South Sudan. I believe it is a situation that warrants international security intervention,” he said.
Expressing optimism about a resolution, Raila noted that he would brief President Ruto and other regional leaders on his findings and propose a roadmap toward lasting peace.
President Ruto had earlier consulted with Museveni and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before deploying Raila as a special envoy. The mission underscores Kenya’s commitment to fostering regional stability in South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, which has struggled with recurring conflicts since gaining independence in 2011.
