South Sudan has denied allegations that President Salva Kiir instructed Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga to meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni before being allowed access to South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar. The claims, which sparked diplomatic debate, have now been dismissed as a misinterpretation of diplomatic norms.
South Sudan’s Official Response
David Amuor Majur, Press Secretary to President Kiir, categorically denied Raila Odinga’s assertions. He clarified that:
🔹 President Kiir did not direct Raila Odinga to consult Museveni before meeting Machar.
🔹 Odinga’s trip to Uganda was pre-planned, not dictated by South Sudan’s leadership.
🔹 Machar was unavailable due to an ongoing investigation, but Odinga may be granted access in the future.
“The suggestion that President Salva Kiir Mayardit requested Raila Odinga to meet President Museveni is a misrepresentation of diplomatic norms,” Majur stated.
Why Raila Was Denied Access to Machar
As the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Raila Odinga had been tasked with mediating peace between President Kiir and Vice President Machar to prevent renewed conflict. However, South Sudanese authorities blocked his meeting with Machar, citing the ongoing probe into Machar’s role in national security matters.
“President Kiir told Raila that the first vice president is under investigation. He assured him that after consulting IGAD member states, he may get a chance to meet Machar,” Majur revealed.
Machar’s Detention & South Sudan’s Political Tension
Machar’s continued detention has raised concerns about the fragile 2018 peace agreement, which ended South Sudan’s brutal five-year civil war.
📌 Why it matters:
✅ Machar’s removal threatens the legitimacy of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).
✅ Peace agreement stability is at stake, with fears of renewed violence.
✅ IGAD leaders, including Odinga, are working to de-escalate tensions.
Raila’s Statement on His South Sudan Visit
Upon arriving in Juba on Friday, Raila Odinga met with President Kiir but was denied access to Machar. Speaking in Kenya on Saturday, Odinga alleged that he was instead sent to meet Museveni in Uganda.
“I asked to be allowed to talk to Dr. Machar, but they refused. They recommended that I meet President Yoweri Museveni instead, which I did,” Odinga said.
South Sudan’s Fragile Peace Process
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence on July 9, 2011, but plunged into a devastating civil war in 2013. The 2018 peace agreement brought temporary stability, but Machar’s detention and political struggles threaten to unravel years of diplomatic progress.
What’s Next?
With diplomatic tensions rising, IGAD leaders will likely convene to address:
✅ The future of Machar’s role in the transitional government.
✅ The stability of the peace agreement and power-sharing structure.
✅ Raila’s next steps as IGAD’s Special Envoy to South Sudan.
As events unfold, all eyes remain on Juba, Nairobi, and Entebbe to determine whether diplomatic mediation can prevent renewed conflict in South Sudan.
