Ruto Sends Raila To South Sudan After Arrest Of Riek Machar

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been appointed by President William Ruto as Kenya's special envoy to South Sudan, following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny, who also serves as the country’s Interior Minister.

According to reports, Odinga is set to depart on Friday morning, March 28, as part of diplomatic efforts to prevent another civil war in the region. The move came after President Ruto held a phone conversation with South Sudan President Salva Kiir, moments after Machar's arrest.

President Ruto stated that discussions focused on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of President Salva Kiir's long-time political rival, Riek Machar.

In a brief statement, Ruto revealed that he also held separate talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding Machar’s contentious detention.

Following these consultations, Ruto announced his decision to deploy a special envoy to South Sudan to engage with stakeholders, help de-escalate tensions, and report back on the situation.

"Had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of the 1st vice president, Riak Machar, in South Sudan. After consultations with President Museveni and PM Abiy, I'm sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try to de-escalate, and brief us back," President Ruto posted on his social media platforms.

Kenya, which has historically played a key role in peace negotiations in South Sudan, acted swiftly in naming Odinga as a special envoy to help mediate the crisis.

The arrest of Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), on Wednesday triggered an immediate and strong reaction from the international community, as efforts intensify to prevent another civil war.

Tensions had been escalating for months, and before the arrest, Machar’s party reported that security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir had surrounded his residence.

According to Machar’s Press Secretary, Puok Both Baluang and Deputy Party Leader, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, late Wednesday, a convoy of 20 heavily armed vehicles, led by the defense minister and chief of national security, forcibly entered Machar’s home. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was issued on unspecified charges.

While his aides and security personnel were reportedly detained and taken away, Machar and his wife remain under house arrest—a move the SPLM-IO argues violates the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

The situation has placed South Sudan in a dangerous position, with the UN Mission in South Sudan warning that the country is on the verge of widespread conflict. 

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which brokered the 2018 peace deal, cautioned that "The current trajectory, if unchecked, could lead to a collapse of the transitional process and a relapse into full-scale war, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan and the region at large.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs urged President Kiir to reverse his decision. “We are concerned by reports that South Sudan's First Vice President, Machar, is under house arrest. We urge President Kiir to reverse this action and prevent further escalation of the situation,” read part of the statement by the United States Department, Bureau of African Affairs.

On Thursday afternoon, the Kenyan National Police Service (NPS) announced the deployment of a team of specialized officers to South Sudan as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The team includes officers from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

According to the NPS, their role is to carry out specialized tasks in support of peacekeeping efforts while adhering to international policing standards.