Former Kenyan 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 and opposition leader Riek Machar, along with his wife, Angelina Teny, who serves as the country's Interior Minister.
Odinga is expected to depart on Friday as part of Kenya’s efforts to prevent another civil war in South Sudan.
The arrest of Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), on Wednesday triggered a swift response from the international community, aiming to prevent the nation from descending into another conflict.
Tensions had been escalating for months, and before the arrest, Machar's party reported that his residence was surrounded by security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir. However, late on Wednesday, according to Machar's Press Secretary Puok Both Baluang and Deputy Party Leader Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, a convoy of 20 heavily armed vehicles led by the defense minister and the chief of national security forced their way into Machar's home. Machar’s bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was presented under "unclear charges," according to his team.
While Machar and his wife remain under house arrest, his aides and security personnel were reportedly detained. The SPLM-IO condemned the move as a violation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
The UN Mission in South Sudan warned that the country’s leaders are "on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict." The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which brokered the 2018 peace agreement, also expressed concern, stating: "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."
The US Bureau of African Affairs urged President Kiir to "reverse this action."
Kenya, a key player in peace negotiations in South Sudan, responded by swiftly appointing Raila Odinga as special envoy. President Ruto stated on social media: "Had a phone call with Pres. Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of 1st Vice Pres. Riak Machar in South Sudan. After consultations with Pres. Museveni and PM Abiy, I'm sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try to deescalate, and brief us back."
The African Union (AU) also took action, with AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf announcing the deployment of the AU Panel of the Wise, chaired by retired Justice Effie Owuor, Kenya's first female State Counsel and a distinguished judicial leader.
Kenya’s proactive approach aims to help stabilize the situation and encourage dialogue between South Sudan’s political factions.