The Government of South Sudan has strongly dismissed claims that President Salva Kiir instructed Kenyan Special Envoy Raila Odinga to consult Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni regarding the status of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
Speaking at a press briefing in Juba on Monday, President Kiir’s Press Secretary, David Majur, refuted Odinga’s assertion that he had been directed to Museveni after being denied access to Machar, who is allegedly under house arrest.
“President Kiir is a head of state, not an envoy. He did not send Raila Odinga to President Museveni,” Majur stated firmly.
The statement came in response to Odinga’s comments in Kenyan media, where he suggested that Machar and his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny, were under house arrest.
South Sudanese officials have categorically denied these allegations, asserting that Teny continues to fulfill her ministerial duties without restriction.
Government representatives further clarified that Odinga’s visit to Uganda was pre-arranged and had no connection to President Kiir.
They emphasized that any claims suggesting otherwise were misleading and did not reflect the actual diplomatic engagements between the leaders.
Meanwhile, tensions persist in South Sudan, with ongoing military operations in areas affected by clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Officials have not provided a timeline for resolving the conflict or for any formal investigations regarding Machar’s situation.
Adding to the diplomatic friction, South Sudan’s government also took issue with a Kenyan television station, Citizen TV, for mistakenly displaying the Sudanese flag instead of South Sudan’s during its coverage of Odinga’s visit.
Majur called the error a “misrepresentation” and demanded an apology.
“We urge all stakeholders, including the media, to respect South Sudan’s sovereignty and accurately portray our nation’s affairs,” Majur added.
Despite the dispute, South Sudan reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with Kenya and other IGAD member states, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in fostering regional peace and stability.
