President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the Special Envoy to South Sudan.
The appointment follows escalating tension in the country following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife.
Hours after the appointment, Raila Odinga flew to Juba where he met President Salva Kiir regarding political situation in the country.
”I had a detailed and fruitful discussion with my brother, H.E President Salva Kiir, in Juba, South Sudan, regarding the political situation in the country. I am encouraged by the possibility of a resolution to the conflict. I will be briefing other regional leaders and President William Ruto on my mission and a possible roadmap to sustainable peace and stability,” Raila Odinga said in a statement on Friday.
South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar is under arrest and will be investigated, President Kiir’s government said on Friday – the first official confirmation of a detention that world powers fear could tip the nation back into war.
Reports that Machar – a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir – had been arrested on Wednesday prompted international calls for restraint.
Kenya sent former prime minister, Raila Odinga, to defuse tensions.
