President William Ruto has initiated urgent diplomatic efforts following the arrest and detention of South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar.
In a statement on Thursday, March 27, Ruto confirmed that he held discussions with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir through a phone call to understand the circumstances surrounding Machar’s detention and explore ways to resolve the situation peacefully.
Consequently, he consulted with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The discussions centered on the regional implications of the crisis and the need for a concerted effort to prevent further escalation in South Sudan.
The president has announced that he is dispatching a special envoy to Juba to engage key stakeholders, assess the situation firsthand, and work towards restoring calm while ensuring that diplomatic channels remain open.
First Reaction from Kenyan on South Sudan Situation
Earlier, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and prioritize stability.
The Prime CS also called on South Sudanese leaders to uphold the ongoing peace process under the framework of IGAD’s Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“We urge all the leaders in South Sudan to exercise utmost restraint, cease hostilities, and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement in the best interests of millions of their people,” he noted in a statement.
The First Vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar, a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir was arrested on Wednesday, March 27 night.
According to a statement released by his party, Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLM/IO), a convoy of more than 20 heavily armed vehicles stormed Machar’s residence in Juba before detaining him.
His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered under unclear charges.
Further, SPLM/IO stated that South Sudan’s defence minister and chief of national security were in the convoy that delivered an arrest warrant to the vice president.
Moreover, his party is trying to relocate him to an undisclosed location for safety.
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Conflict Between Supporters of the President and Vice President
Earlier on Wednesday, the UN reported clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar outside the capital Juba.
Also, government troops loyal to the president were reported to have battled fighters of the White Army, which has close ties to Machar.
Machar’s party also said a military base and two military training centres around Juba had been attacked by government forces since Monday, March 24.
Also, SPLM/IO has accused the government of targeting opposition figures through political reshuffles and security crackdowns in an attempt to sideline Machar.
President Kiir, is reportedly maneuvering to secure his political future, fueling speculation about succession battles within his inner circle.
Also Read: Ruto Holds Key Meeting With South Sudan Opposition at State House
Conflict in South Sudan
A political arrangement has held the country together since a 2018 peace deal ended a five-year civil war, fought between forces loyal to Kiir and Machar that killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions.
However, the two leaders agreed to share power in a unity government.
Recent tensions and political maneuvers have raised fears of a renewed conflict with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sounding an alarm.
UNMISS has urged all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement (RPA) signed in 2018.
Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, emphasized that South Sudan is at risk of relapsing into widespread conflict unless leaders reaffirm their commitment to peace.
“Tonight, the country’s leaders must decide whether to push South Sudan back into war or move forward towards peace, recovery, and democracy,” Haysom stated.
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