President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the Special Envoy to South Sudan.
The appointment follows escalating tension in the country following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife.
Announcing the appointment, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Song’Oei said Raila is currently in South Sudan, engaged with the latest developments from the East African country.
The former PM travelled to Juba to convey Ruto’s message to both President Salva Kiir and VP Machar and other stakeholders involved in efforts to end the escalation.
“President William Ruto, who is also the chair of the East African Community, has requested former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be his special envoy to South Sudan. The Special Envoy is presently engaged with the escalating situation in our sisterly country, including traveling to Juba to convey the President’s message to President Kiir and Vice President Machar as well as to critical stakeholders in Juba,” Sing’Oei said.
Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny, were placed under house arrest on Wednesday night, an action that now threatens peace in the fragile nation.
The arrest follows weeks of escalating clashes between Machar's forces and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces near the capital Juba.
Regional leaders and bodies have been calling for restraint and de-escalation of the situation.
On Thursday, President William Ruto had a phone conversation with his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kirr following reports of the arrest of Machar.
Following their conversation, Ruto announced that he was sending a special envoy to South Sudan to ease tensions.
Ruto noted that he consulted President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali before making the decision.
“Had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of 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 deescalate and brief us back,” he wrote on X.
