Days after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga disclosed details of his meeting with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir regarding the country’s ongoing tensions, the South Sudanese government has issued a conflicting statement.
Odinga was appointed as a special envoy to South Sudan following reports of the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny.
After his visit, Odinga claimed that his request to meet Machar was denied, adding that President Kiir had instead instructed him to engage with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni before holding discussions with the Vice President.
South Sudan Counters Odinga’s Remarks
However, during a press briefing on Monday, South Sudan’s Presidential Press Secretary David Amuor Majur dismissed Odinga’s claims. He refuted the assertion that President Kiir had made Museveni’s involvement a condition for Odinga to meet Machar.
“The claim that His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit directed Right Honourable Raila Odinga to engage with the Ugandan President before meeting Vice President Riek Machar is a misrepresentation of diplomatic norms and principles,” Majur stated.
He further clarified that Odinga’s visit to Uganda had been planned beforehand and was not a directive from President Kiir.
Arrest Claims Denied
Additionally, Majur dismissed reports suggesting that Machar and his wife had been placed under arrest, stating that such claims were inaccurate.
“The government of South Sudan categorically denies reports that the Minister of Interior and her spouse, Vice President Riek Machar, are under arrest. These claims do not reflect the actual situation on the ground,” he said.
However, this contradicts an earlier statement by South Sudan’s government spokesperson Michael Makuei, who had alleged that Machar was detained due to his suspected involvement in the deaths of 11 people in the Nasir region. Makuei also accused Machar of mobilizing supporters to incite rebellion and disrupt national stability.
Following his trip to South Sudan, Odinga proceeded to Entebbe for discussions with President Museveni. He is expected to brief the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders on his diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the standoff between President Kiir and Vice President Machar.