Raila briefs Uganda President Yoweri Museveni after fact-finding mission in South Sudan
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is in Entebbe, Uganda, after jetting after his peace mission in South Sudan.
With tensions flaring and the South Sudanese military carrying out aerial bombings, according to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Raila stated that he had briefed Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni on the security situation in Juba.
“Landed in Entebbe, Uganda, for a briefing session with President Yoweri Museveni following my fact-finding mission on the political situation in South Sudan. I remain hopeful that a peaceful way out of the political uncertainty in South Sudan is possible, and further escalation can be avoided,” Raila said.
Kenya’s special envoy
Raila was appointed as a special envoy from Kenya to help mediate the escalating conflict in South Sudan alongside the African Union’s Panel of the Wise and other stakeholders in the country’s peace commitment.
In a statement on Friday, March 28, 2025, Guterres indicated that about three-quarters of the people in South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance, which has been severely hampered by cuts in aid.
“Our UN Mission in South Sudan is working around the clock to ease tensions, engaging all parties and boosting protection of civilians. But we face operational limitations,” Guterres noted.
“A security emergency—with intensifying clashes, aerial bombing of civilians—including women and children, the presence of external forces, and an ever-growing regional dimension to the conflict.”
He noted that the arrest and detention of Machar had the potential to reverse the gains made a few years back when they signed a peace agreement.
Civil war
“Let’s not mince words: What we are seeing is darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 civil wars, which killed 400,000 people,” Guterres added.
He appealed to the leaders of the country that the Horn of Africa is already in conflict and cannot afford another war, urging the leaders to de-escalate the tensions and return to the peace accord.
“End the politics of confrontation. Release detained military and civilian officials now. Fully restore the Government of National Unity,” Guterres observed.
“We fully support the AU initiative to deploy the Panel of the Wise – as well as the efforts of the Special Envoy of President Ruto of Kenya,” he added.
Guterres also observed that with the country’s elections set for December 2026, peace was the surest way to guarantee fairness in the exercise, urging the warring factions to put their weapons down.
“South Sudan may have fallen off the world’s radar, but we cannot let the situation fall into the abyss. Now more than ever, the leaders of South Sudan must hear a clear, unified, and resounding message: Put down the weapons. Put all the people of South Sudan first.
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Arnold Ngure
General reporter with a bias for crime reporting, human interest stories and tech.
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