Kenya’s special envoy to South Sudan, Raila Odinga, has revealed he was unable to meet First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar during his visit to Juba, where he sought to mediate in renewed hostilities between government and opposition forces.
Mr Odinga travelled to Juba on Friday at the request of President William Ruto, following reports of Dr Machar’s house arrest. Tensions have escalated in the world’s youngest nation, with clashes threatening fragile peace efforts.
In a statement on Saturday evening in Nairobi, the Kenyan opposition leader said South Sudanese authorities had denied him permission to meet Dr 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, which I did. From Juba I then proceeded to Entebbe,” he said.
Mr Odinga said he held lengthy discussions with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, who told him a general and several others had been killed in Nasir town, Upper Nile State.
President Kiir said an investigation was ongoing and cited the incident as the reason for Dr Machar’s detention, Mr Odinga said.
“They are saying it is some militia linked to him, but they have not made a direct connection between him and the killing of the general. We hope they will finalise this matter soon,” he said.
After leaving Juba, Mr Odinga travelled to Entebbe, Uganda, where he briefed President Museveni on the crisis. Mr Museveni pledged to engage with President Kiir.
Mr Odinga stressed that the situation remains unresolved and requires international attention.
“The situation requires international 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.
Despite the challenges, he expressed cautious optimism, saying he would brief regional leaders and President Ruto on a possible roadmap to peace.
“I will be briefing other regional leaders and President William Ruto on my mission and a possible roadmap to sustainable peace and stability,” he stated.
President Ruto had announced Mr Odinga’s deployment on Thursday after speaking with President Kiir. He said he also consulted Uganda’s President Museveni and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before taking the step.
In a post on X, President Ruto wrote: “Had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of 1st Vice President Riek Machar in South Sudan. After consultations with President Museveni and PM Abiy, I’m sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try deescalate and brief us back.”