Raila speaks after South Sudan denies him chance to meet Riek Machar
Kenya’s special envoy to South Sudan, Raila Odinga, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, provided an update on his first visit to the East African countries in a bid to de-escalate the political situation.
However, Raila suffered a setback in his debut mission in South Sudan, revealing that he was denied a chance to meet South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, who have been placed under house arrest following the killing of a military general and 10 others in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Addressing the press after landing from Uganda, where he met President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Raila confirmed that he did not get a chance to meet Machar but only engaged South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
Kenya’s special envoy to South Sudan further informed the press that Kiir explained the reason behind the continued detention of Riek Machar despite pressure from major global bodies.
“Niliongea na rais Salva Kiir na akaniambia changamoto ambazo wanapitia. Jemedari mmoja katika Mji wa Nasir ambayo iko Kaskazini ya South Sudan pale ambapo wanaitwa Nile karibu na mji wa Malakal. Wanasema wanafanya uchunguzi,” Raila revealed.
“Mimi mwenyewe nilijaribu nikauliza kama naweza kubaliwa kuongea na Dr Riek Machar lakini hawakunirusu nifanye haya.”
Which loosely translates to: I had a lengthy discussion with President Kiir, who told me about the challenges they are facing and that there was the killing of a general and ten other people in the town of Nasir in the Upper Nile, and they are investigating the incident,” Raila stated
“ I asked to talk to Dr Riek Machar, but they denied me the chance,” he added.
Raila with Museveni
After the meeting in South Sudan, Raila confirmed his meeting with Museveni, where he briefed him on the South Sudan developments.
He, however did not delve deeper into what they discussed with Museveni.
“After meeting with President Museveni, I reported to him what I had found in South Sudan. After lengthy discussions, he said he would get in touch with President Kiir,” Raila disclosed.
The situation in South Sudan has been boiling over the recent days. South Sudan is now facing what the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as a security emergency, political upheaval, humanitarian catastrophe, displacement crisis, economic collapse and a severe funding shortfall – all at once.
Half the population is severely food insecure while three out of four people require humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, over one million people have fled across the border from Sudan since fighting broke out there last year between rival militaries, and cholera has been reported, compounding the crisis.
“South Sudan may have fallen off the world’s radar, but we cannot let the situation fall over the abyss,” Guterres said on Friday March 28, 2025, while recognising Raila’s efforts in trying to help de-escalate the situation.
