Leaders from nearby African countries jumped into action Friday when former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga flew to South Sudan. The regional group IGAD sent him to meet President Salva Kiir as the country faces serious problems. His trip came right after South Sudanese soldiers arrested Vice President Riek Machar on March 26. Everyone worries this arrest might start another civil war like the one that killed 400,000 people a few years ago.
IGAD later told reporters that Odinga had good talks with President Kiir about keeping the country peaceful. Odinga apparently feels they can fix things without more fighting and promised IGAD would keep helping. South Sudan's government also talked about the meeting, saying Odinga came specifically to make peace between fighting groups.
IGAD asked Odinga to look at all the security issues and try to get South Sudanese leaders talking again. He plans to tell other presidents in the area, like Kenya's William Ruto, what he found out. Machar ended up in custody when about 20 trucks full of armed men showed up at his house in Juba. These men took his guards' guns away and grabbed him without explaining why.
Fighting started in several places around South Sudan at the same time as the arrest. People reported gunfire and battles in places called Rejaf, Wunaliet and across Upper Nile State. Some reports talk about bombs dropping from planes and regular people dying. The African Union and the United Nations both made statements saying everyone needs to calm down fast.
The head of the African Union, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said he is very worried about Machar being held against his will. He asked all sides not to make things worse and to remember the peace deal they signed. The UN peacekeepers warned that the country is right at the edge of falling back into terrible war. They asked everyone to promise peace again and stop hurting regular people.
The African Union decided to send a special group of respected leaders called the Panel of the Wise to help solve the problem. IGAD choosing Odinga, such an important person, shows they think this situation could explode. Some people blame other countries for causing trouble. Uganda put soldiers in South Sudan, saying they just want stability. Sudan supposedly helps opposition fighters, making everything even more complicated.
In 2018, President Kiir and Machar signed an agreement to share power and stop the fighting. That deal never really worked properly because nobody trusted each other, and the military kept gaining strength. With Machar locked up, many people who watch African politics think the peace agreement might die completely.
IGAD later told reporters that Odinga had good talks with President Kiir about keeping the country peaceful. Odinga apparently feels they can fix things without more fighting and promised IGAD would keep helping. South Sudan's government also talked about the meeting, saying Odinga came specifically to make peace between fighting groups.
IGAD asked Odinga to look at all the security issues and try to get South Sudanese leaders talking again. He plans to tell other presidents in the area, like Kenya's William Ruto, what he found out. Machar ended up in custody when about 20 trucks full of armed men showed up at his house in Juba. These men took his guards' guns away and grabbed him without explaining why.
Fighting started in several places around South Sudan at the same time as the arrest. People reported gunfire and battles in places called Rejaf, Wunaliet and across Upper Nile State. Some reports talk about bombs dropping from planes and regular people dying. The African Union and the United Nations both made statements saying everyone needs to calm down fast.
The head of the African Union, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said he is very worried about Machar being held against his will. He asked all sides not to make things worse and to remember the peace deal they signed. The UN peacekeepers warned that the country is right at the edge of falling back into terrible war. They asked everyone to promise peace again and stop hurting regular people.
The African Union decided to send a special group of respected leaders called the Panel of the Wise to help solve the problem. IGAD choosing Odinga, such an important person, shows they think this situation could explode. Some people blame other countries for causing trouble. Uganda put soldiers in South Sudan, saying they just want stability. Sudan supposedly helps opposition fighters, making everything even more complicated.
In 2018, President Kiir and Machar signed an agreement to share power and stop the fighting. That deal never really worked properly because nobody trusted each other, and the military kept gaining strength. With Machar locked up, many people who watch African politics think the peace agreement might die completely.
