NAIROBI – Kenya has expressed concern over South Sudan’s latest development following reports of the detention of the country’s first vice president, Riek Machar.
In a statement on Thursday, Kenya urged all parties involved to prioritize peace and adhere to the ongoing agreement under intergovernmental authorities on the Intergovernmental Authority on the Reconciliation Agreement for South Sudan (R-ARCSS) (IGAD) (R-ARCSS).
“The Kenyan government calls on all South Sudan stakeholders to prioritize the peace of the country by giving room for the ongoing peace agreement under the auspices of Igad’s revitalized agreement,” said Mudavadi Mudavadi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interior.
Mudavadi, who also serves as the main cabinet secretary, urged South Sudan leaders to exercise restraint and stop hostility.
He called on political parties fighting to support a revitalized peace agreement for the benefit of millions of South Sudanian citizens.
According to his party, Machar, a longtime rival to President Salva Kir, was placed under house arrest on Wednesday.
House arrest at home
The BBC reported that the opposition in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM/IO) revealed that an armed convoy led by top security officials, including the Minister of Defense, entered Juba, the capital’s residence in Machar, and disarmed his bodyguard on Wednesday.
“Technically, Dr. Machar is under house arrest, but security officials initially tried to take him away,” said Reath Muoch Tang, chairman of the party’s foreign affairs committee.
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Machar and Kiel had agreed to end the five-year civil war in August 2018, killing around 400,000 people.
However, over the past seven years, their relationship has become increasingly tense amid ethnic tensions and sporadic violence.
SPLM/IO also said Machar was detained along with his wife, Angelina Tenny, who serves as South Sudan’s Home Affairs Minister.
Kenya is a key player in regional peace efforts, particularly in South Sudan, and continues to advocate for stability in the region.
The latest appeal of the government has heightened tensions in Juba and increased fear of potential set-offs in the vulnerable peace process.
On March 12, the 43rd extraordinary assembly of the Igad nation and government effectively convened to deal with the security situation in South Sudan.
The summit was chaired by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Grele, chairman of the IGAD Head of State Parliament.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was present, including Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gideon Timotewos (represented by Prime Minister Abhii Ahmed) and Kenya’s national security adviser Monica Juma (represented by President William Root).
During the meeting, participants reaffirmed the 2018 R-ARCS as the foundation of South Sudan’s peace process.
They also emphasized that dialogue and discussion continue to be the only way to resolve differences.
