People across East Africa felt confused Friday when Raila Odinga, the former Kenyan Prime Minister, met only with South Sudan President Salva Kiir during his trip to Juba. He never talked to Dr. Riek Machar, the detained First Vice President who leads armed opposition forces in the unity government. As a special peace messenger sent to check what was happening after Machar's house arrest, everyone expected Odinga would listen to both sides of the conflict before suggesting ways to fix the crisis.
After leaving Juba, Odinga said he had a complete and helpful talk with Kiir. He later admitted the government would not let him visit Machar, who has been trapped at home since Wednesday by presidential guards and military intelligence officers following Kiir's orders. When Odinga asked to meet Machar, Kiir suggested he should instead fly to Uganda and talk with President Yoweri Museveni about the matter.
That's exactly what happened next - Odinga went straight from Juba to Entebbe for a meeting with Museveni. But rather than addressing how Odinga might reach Machar, Museveni simply said he planned to speak with Kiir himself. Uganda sent its UPDF forces into South Sudan on March 11, 2025, just one day after Kiir requested help. Kiir's government claims Machar was secretly organizing his SPLA-IO forces to create political chaos.
The SPLA-IO announced Thursday that Machar's arrest effectively ends the shaky peace deal signed in 2018. Many international groups have demanded Machar's release, including the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, and Western diplomatic missions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres asked President Kiir on Friday to free Machar and restore the national unity government created by the 2018 peace agreement. The worsening security situation has already forced Germany and Norway to shut down their embassies in Juba, with America and Britain reducing their staff numbers.
After leaving Juba, Odinga said he had a complete and helpful talk with Kiir. He later admitted the government would not let him visit Machar, who has been trapped at home since Wednesday by presidential guards and military intelligence officers following Kiir's orders. When Odinga asked to meet Machar, Kiir suggested he should instead fly to Uganda and talk with President Yoweri Museveni about the matter.
That's exactly what happened next - Odinga went straight from Juba to Entebbe for a meeting with Museveni. But rather than addressing how Odinga might reach Machar, Museveni simply said he planned to speak with Kiir himself. Uganda sent its UPDF forces into South Sudan on March 11, 2025, just one day after Kiir requested help. Kiir's government claims Machar was secretly organizing his SPLA-IO forces to create political chaos.
The SPLA-IO announced Thursday that Machar's arrest effectively ends the shaky peace deal signed in 2018. Many international groups have demanded Machar's release, including the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, and Western diplomatic missions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres asked President Kiir on Friday to free Machar and restore the national unity government created by the 2018 peace agreement. The worsening security situation has already forced Germany and Norway to shut down their embassies in Juba, with America and Britain reducing their staff numbers.
