Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a special envoy to South Sudan in a bid to mediate tensions following the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar. Odinga is expected to travel to Juba on Friday as part of regional efforts to prevent further instability.
Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), was placed under house arrest on Wednesday after security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir reportedly surrounded his residence and disarmed his bodyguards. His party condemned the move as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that ended years of civil war.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned of the risk of widespread conflict, while the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) cautioned that the crisis could derail the fragile peace process. The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs urged Kiir to reverse Machar’s detention, emphasizing the need for dialogue.
Kenya, a key mediator in past South Sudan peace deals, acted swiftly, with Ruto stating that he consulted with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before sending Odinga. Meanwhile, the African Union announced plans to deploy its Panel of the Wise, chaired by retired Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, to support mediation efforts.