Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday March 28, 2025, held discussion with H.E President Salva Kiir, in Juba, South Sudan, regarding the political situation in the country.
According to Raila, he was encouraged by the possibility of a resolution to the conflict.
“I will be briefing other regional leaders and President William Ruto on my mission and a possible roadmap to sustainable peace and stability,” he said.
This comes after President William Ruto on Thursday March 27, 2025, appointed 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.
