By Matik Kueth
President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as Kenya’s special envoy to South Sudan amid escalating tensions following the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, leader of the SPLM/A-IO, alongside his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny.
Raila is set to travel to South Sudan on Friday to engage President Kiir in dialogue to prevent further strife in the country.
The decision to send a special envoy was made after President Ruto held discussions via phone with 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 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.
“In South Sudan, I updated the Secretary of State on the current situation and the initiatives we are engaged in to encourage the government and opposition to re-engage, de-escalate violence and rededicate themselves to the search for peace,” Ruto noted.
The arrest of Machar has heightened tensions, with fears that the country would slip back into civil war.
The long-standing animosity between President Kiir and Machar dated back to 2013 and has spurred fatal battles, with over 40,000 people killed in past clashes.
Although the two leaders reached a peace pact in 2018, recent events have threatened the fragile truce.
The brawling escalation occurred when an armed group known as the White Army overran the Wech-Yar-Adiu Military barrack in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
On Wednesday night, Machar’s Press Secretary Puok Both Baluang and Deputy Party Leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino reported that security forces raided Machar’s residence with 20 heavily armed vehicles led by the defense minister and national security chief.
Machar’s bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was presented on what his team described as “unclear charges.”
Moreover, Machar’s security personnel and aides were also taken into custody, while Machar and his wife were placed under house arrest—a move the SPLM-IO party views as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The situation has drawn international concern, with the UN Mission in South Sudan warning that the country’s leaders are “on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict.”