By Matik Kueth
Kenya’s Special Envoy and Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, arrived in Juba on Friday morning to help mediate the ongoing tensions in South Sudan following the home detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
Odinga’s appointment comes after President Ruto’s phone conversations with President Salva Kiir, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
“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 Museveni and PM Abiy, I’m sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try to de-escalate, and brief us back,” Ruto stated on Thursday on his X-Platform.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a brief statement this afternoon announcing Odinga’s arrival.
“The esteemed former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, arrived in Juba this morning on a brief mission as Kenya’s Special Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan,” the statement read in part.
South Sudan’s conflict has worsened in recent months, prompting concerns about further violence.
On March 25, 2025, Ruto met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss regional security issues, notably South Sudan’s deteriorating situation.
The arrest of Machar has heightened tensions, with fears that the country could slip back into civil war.
Regional bodies including IGAD and the African Union, who played critical roles in mediating South Sudan’s conflict, have cautioned that current tensions in the nation could increase and lead to a relapse.
On the other hand, on March 24, 2025, UNMISS warned that South Sudan is on the brink of returning to a full-fledged civil war as increased violence and political tensions erupt in the country.
It urged all parties to take a step back and commit to peacekeeping before the country become embroiled in another devasting conflict.