Editor's Review

Raila will engage with key leaders in South Sudan, including President Kiir and VP Machar, in his new role. 

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been appointed as President William Ruto’s special envoy to South Sudan in a move aimed at addressing the escalating situation in the East African nation. 

In an update on Friday, March 28, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'Oei said Raila will engage with key leaders in South Sudan, including President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, in his new role. 

"President William Ruto, who is also the chair of the East African Community, has requested former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be his special envoy to South Sudan," he said.

Sing'Oei confirmed that Raila has already begun his diplomatic mission and will be traveling to Juba to deliver Ruto’s message. 

"The Special Envoy is presently engaged with the escalating situation in our sisterly country, including traveling to Juba to convey the President’s message to President Kiir and Vice President Machar as well as to critical stakeholders in Juba," he added.

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File image of Raila Odinga and President Salva Kiir

On Thursday, March 27, Ruto announced that he had initiated diplomatic efforts to address the arrest and detention of Machar. 

In a statement, he confirmed that he had a phone conversation with President Kiir regarding the circumstances surrounding Machar's arrest. 

The Head of State further noted that he had consulted with regional leaders to find a resolution to the crisis.

"I had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of First Vice President Riek Machar in South Sudan.

"After consultations with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, I am sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try to de-escalate the situation, and brief us back on the progress made,” he said.

Machar was on Wednesday, March 26, placed under house arrest in Juba by government forces loyal to President Kiir.

The arrest followed a raid on his residence by a convoy of heavily armed vehicles, during which his bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered on unclear charges. 

Machar's party, the SPLM-IO, condemned the action as a violation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, which had ended a five-year civil war, declaring the peace deal effectively collapsed.