Ruto Dispatches Raila to Juba after Consulting Museveni, Abiy

enyan President William Ruto has dispatched the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga to South Sudan after consultation with the Uganda President, Yoweri Museveni and the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Raila’s special envoy mission which starts today Friday, is focused on de-escalating the situation in South Sudan after the arrest of the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny, who is the minister of Interior Affairs.

Ruto said he has already engaged Kiir on the phone on the polarizing situation in the war ravaged country.

“Had a phone call with Pres. Salva kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of 1st vice Pres. Riak Machar in South Sudan,” said Ruto. Adding: “After consultations with Pres. Museveni and PM Abiy, I’m sending a special envoy to South sudan to engage, try to deescalate, and brief us back.”

The African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf also said on Thursday that he will deploy the A.U Panel of the Wise which is chaired by retired Justice Effie Owuor, Kenya’s first female State Council, Senior Magistrate, High Court Judge, and Appeals Court Judge.

The SPLA/M-IO on Thursday announced the total collapse of the peace agreement after the house arrest of Dr. Machar by soldiers from the military intelligence and the presidential guards on the orders of President Salva Kiir.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Thursday urged the warring parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any actions that could exacerbate tensions, and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve any outstanding issues through peaceful and legal means.

The diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Norway, Netherlands, Germany and the European Union delegation in South Sudan on Thursday called on President Kiir to release Dr. Riek Machar.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said on Thursday that it is alarmed by the arrest of Machar noting it “seriously” undermine the fragile peace agreement signed in August 2018.

The deteriorating security situation in South Sudan has already forced Germany and Norway to close their embassies in the capital Juba while the U.S. and U.K. have cut down on their staffers.