DETAILS: How Ruto’s Phone Call With Salva Kiir Went After Machar’s Arrest
On Thursday, March 27, President William Ruto spoke by phone with South Sudan President Salva Kiir, shortly after the arrest of Riek Machar, the country’s first vice president.
According to the Kenyan President, the discussion focused on the circumstances that led to the detention of Kiir’s long-time political adversary.
In a brief statement, Ruto revealed that he had separate discussions with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over Machar’s controversial arrest.
The president went on to say that following the talks, he decided to send a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, de-escalate the situation, and provide input.
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. After consultations with Pres. Museveni and PM Abiy, I'm sending a special envoy to South sudan to engage, try deescalate, and brief us back.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 27, 2025
“Had a phone call with President Salva Kiir on the situation leading to the arrest and detention of First Vice President Riek Machar in South Sudan,” Ruto announced.
“After consultations with President Museveni and Prime Minister Abiy, I am sending a special envoy to South Sudan to engage, try to de-escalate, and brief us back,” he added.
Machar was apprehended on Wednesday, March 26, by a convoy of 20 armed security personnel who stormed his home in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, and disarmed his bodyguards before arresting him.
Machar was arrested and remanded in police prison alongside his wife, Angela Teny, the country’s Interior and Coordination Minister.
Machar’s detention was verified by Reath Muoch Tang, Chairman of Machar’s Foreign Relations Committee.
Tang called Machar’s detention unlawful, noting that the warrant was issued on ambiguous charges.
Hours after his detention, the US government issued a statement appealing for Machar’s immediate release to prevent further escalation of hostilities in the war-torn country.
We are concerned by reports South Sudan's First Vice President Machar is under house arrest. We urge President Kiir to reverse this action & prevent further escalation of the situation. It is time for South Sudan's leaders to demonstrate sincerity of stated commitments to peace.
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) March 27, 2025
“We are concerned by reports that South Sudan’s First Vice President, Machar, is under house arrest,” read part of the statement by the United States Department, Bureau of African Affairs.
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“We urge President Kiir to reverse this action and prevent further escalation of the situation.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, the Kenyan National Police Service (NPS) announced that it would send a team of specialised officers to South Sudan for a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
The policemen were recruited from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to NPS, their objective is to perform specialised activities in support of peacekeeping efforts while adhering to international policing standards.
DETAILS: How Ruto’s Phone Call With Salva Kiir Went After Machar’s Arrest
