African Union (AU) mediators arrived in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Wednesday to engage in talks aimed at preventing the outbreak of a new civil war, following the recent house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.
Machar, a former rebel leader during the 2013-2018 civil war, has been accused by President Salva Kiir’s government of attempting to incite another rebellion. The arrest followed weeks of violent clashes in the northern Upper Nile state between the military and the White Army militia, with Machar’s forces previously allied with the militia during the civil conflict—though Machar’s party denies any ongoing ties.
The AU delegation, including members of the “Council of the Wise” such as former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and former Kenyan judge Effie Owuor, arrived at Juba’s airport on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, Machar’s SPLM-IO party expressed its support for the mediation efforts, saying it “warmly welcomes the arrival of the Council of the Wise as part of ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and support the peace process.”
The AU’s Peace and Security Council, on Tuesday, called for Machar’s “immediate and unconditional release,” warning that the current situation threatens the 2018 peace agreement that brought an end to the brutal conflict.
On Monday, Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also arrived in Juba to mediate on behalf of an East African regional body. Although Odinga met with Kiir, he was not permitted to visit Machar.
Political analysts suggest that Kiir, at 73, may be seeking to solidify his power amid internal political discontent and worsening security conditions exacerbated by the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan, which has contributed to an influx of weapons into South Sudan.
The 2013-2018 war was heavily driven by ethnic tensions, with the Dinka, South Sudan’s largest ethnic group, backing Kiir, while the Nuer, the second-largest group, supported Machar.
