The African Union sent a peace team to Juba on Friday morning, but they couldn't see First Vice President Riek Machar on Friday morning. Machar leads the SPLA-IO rebel group and signed the shaky 2018 peace deal. The team came under former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye. They planned to talk with Machar, but something stopped them. The team told the UN mission they wanted to meet everyone involved in the conflict.
The peace team said in their letter that they would meet President Salva Kiir and talk to all key people. This included vice presidents, peace agreement groups, election officials, army officers, and regional partners. They have already met with UN rep Nicholas Haysom and President Kiir. It seems nobody can visit Machar until he faces charges in court. Even IGAD envoy Raila Odinga tried but failed to see Machar during his Juba trip.
Kiir's government claims Machar planned a new rebellion to cause trouble. Last Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei stated that intelligence reports showed Machar had been contacting SPLA-IO forces since early March 2025. He allegedly pushed his commanders to fight the government to block elections and restart war. Makuei blamed Machar for the deadly attack by White Army militias against government soldiers in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
The minister said the White Army overran Nasir on March 4, 2025, killed Commander Majur Dak, and scattered government forces. President Kiir ordered Machar's house arrest on March 26, 2025, to protect government positions and save the peace agreement. The UN, African Union, IGAD, and Western nations have asked for Machar's release and full implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
Several countries expressed concern about the situation. The US, UK, France, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, and European Union missions all urged President Kiir to free Machar last Thursday. The bad security situation forced Germany and Norway to close their embassies in Juba. The US and UK have reduced their staff numbers as tensions rise across South Sudan.
The peace team said in their letter that they would meet President Salva Kiir and talk to all key people. This included vice presidents, peace agreement groups, election officials, army officers, and regional partners. They have already met with UN rep Nicholas Haysom and President Kiir. It seems nobody can visit Machar until he faces charges in court. Even IGAD envoy Raila Odinga tried but failed to see Machar during his Juba trip.
Kiir's government claims Machar planned a new rebellion to cause trouble. Last Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei stated that intelligence reports showed Machar had been contacting SPLA-IO forces since early March 2025. He allegedly pushed his commanders to fight the government to block elections and restart war. Makuei blamed Machar for the deadly attack by White Army militias against government soldiers in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
The minister said the White Army overran Nasir on March 4, 2025, killed Commander Majur Dak, and scattered government forces. President Kiir ordered Machar's house arrest on March 26, 2025, to protect government positions and save the peace agreement. The UN, African Union, IGAD, and Western nations have asked for Machar's release and full implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
Several countries expressed concern about the situation. The US, UK, France, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, and European Union missions all urged President Kiir to free Machar last Thursday. The bad security situation forced Germany and Norway to close their embassies in Juba. The US and UK have reduced their staff numbers as tensions rise across South Sudan.
