South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar Stories

AU, IGAD step up efforts to revive South Sudan's stalled peace process
Mwangi Maina  |  May 06, 2025

The high-level visit to Juba came amid mounting tensions and stalled progress in the implementation of the 2018 accord.

UN extends South Sudan peacekeeping mission by nine days amid escalating tensions
Mwangi Maina  |  May 02, 2025

The mission's renewal reflects a sobering reality: the country's internal fragility continues to pose a threat to regional peace and security.

South Sudan peace deal under threat as key opposition leaders detained
Mwangi Maina  |  Apr 30, 2025

Human Rights Watch estimates that 17 individuals remain incarcerated in Juba without formal charges.

UN criticises global inaction as South Sudan teeters on brink of civil war
Mwangi Maina  |  Apr 18, 2025

UN Special Representative Nicholas Haysom warned that the current conditions are "darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts, which took over 4...

East Africa’s democratic backslide: Wave of arrests, repression raises alarm across region
Barack Oduor  |  Apr 17, 2025

In Yoweri Museveni’s Uganda, the High Court in Kampala has denied bail to veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutal...

South Sudan President Kiir fires foreign minister amid US row and political tensions
Mwangi Maina  |  Apr 10, 2025

The diplomatic wrangle with US comes at a time when the government is also facing internal political strain over the continuing house arrest of First...

South Sudan rebuffs IGAD mission as tensions between Kiir and Machar deepen
Mwangi Maina  |  Apr 09, 2025

South Sudan is a member of IGAD, a regional bloc comprising eight countries from the Horn of Africa, the Nile Valley and the Great Lakes Region.

South Sudan says US visa revocation was a result of denying entry to non-citizen
Reuters  |  Apr 08, 2025

US President Donald Trump's administration has taken aggressive measures to increase immigration enforcement, including the repatriation of people dee...

US cancels all South Sudan visas due to country's failure to repatriate its citizens
Reuters  |  Apr 06, 2025

US President Donald Trump's administration has taken aggressive measures to ramp up immigration enforcement, including the repatriation of people deem...

African Union mediators arrive in South Sudan to try to rescue peace deal
Reuters  |  Apr 02, 2025

The AU delegation's flight arrived at Juba's airport on Wednesday afternoon with a "Council of the Wise" which included former Burundian President Dom...

Raila misrepresented diplomatic mission during South Sudan visit - Kiir's office
Mwangi Maina  |  Mar 31, 2025

As questions swirl over the clarity and coordination of Odinga's special envoy role, one thing remains clear—Juba is not amused.

AUC Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf to dispatch Panel of the Wise to mediate in South Sudan crisis
Mwangi Maina  |  Mar 31, 2025

In a statement issued from Addis Ababa on Monday, the AUC chief expressed "solidarity with the Government and people of South Sudan," reaffirming the...

UN chief António Guterres urges South Sudan to end political confrontation, release detained officials
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 29, 2025

He warned that the Horn of Africa is already in turmoil and cannot withstand another conflict, urging immediate de-escalation.

Who is Salva Kiir, the former rebel leading fractured South Sudan?
Reuters  |  Mar 29, 2025

Now a decade on, Kiir's administration has detained Machar, his longtime rival, threatening once again to ignite conflict in an impoverished country i...

South Sudan says arrested VP Machar tried to stir rebellion, raising war fear
Reuters  |  Mar 28, 2025

Reports that Machar – a long-time rival of President Salva Kiir – was arrested on Wednesday prompted international calls for restraint. Kenya sent its...

UN Chief: Situation in South Sudan 'darkly reminiscent' of civil wars
Reuters  |  Mar 28, 2025

First Vice President Riek Machar was put under house arrest in the capital Juba on Wednesday, in effect voiding a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-ye...

Ruto appoints Raila as Kenya's special envoy to South Sudan amid rising tension
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 28, 2025

It is understood that Raila is set to travel to South Sudan on Friday to help prevent further conflict in the country.

Who is Riek Machar, South Sudan's embattled vice president?
Reuters  |  Mar 28, 2025

Machar rejoined the SPLA in 2002, and after a 2005 peace deal that ended civil war and established southern autonomy, he became vice-president of the...

Regional bodies call for restraint in South Sudan as tensions rise after Machar’s arrest
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Mar 27, 2025

IGAD's Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, said such developments undermine the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Su...

Kenya deploys police officers to South Sudan amid escalating tensions after Machar's arrest
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 27, 2025

President William Ruto on Thursday said he had called President Kiir to discuss the situation leading to Machar’s arrest and detention.

Riek Machar’s party declares South Sudan peace deal null and void after his arrest
Barack Oduor  |  Mar 27, 2025

Civil society activists, the United Nations, and the United States have called for restraint and the reversal of the action following reports of the a...

South Sudan VP Machar's party trying to locate him after arrest warrant issued
Reuters  |  Mar 27, 2025

Foreign governments have warned that civil war could break out again in South Sudan following weeks of escalating tensions that originated in fighting...

South Sudan's VP Machar accuses Uganda of violating arms embargo
Amina Wako  |  Mar 25, 2025

In a letter addressed to the U.N., African Union and the IGAD regional bloc, Machar said Uganda's military intervention in South Sudan had violated a...

Germany temporarily shuts embassy in South Sudan amid fears of civil war
Reuters  |  Mar 23, 2025

South Sudan's United Nations peacekeeping chief, Nicholas Haysom, has also said he is concerned the country is "on the brink of relapse into civil war...

Violence in South Sudan is rising again: What’s different this time, and how to avoid civil war
The Conversation  |  Mar 19, 2025

This conflict can be traced back to historical tensions between the Nuer and Dinka communities, worsened by the 1991 split of the Sudanese People’s Li...

Airstrike kills at least 19 in South Sudan town, residents say
Reuters  |  Mar 18, 2025

A South Sudanese general was among around 27 soldiers killed on March 7 when a U.N. helicopter trying to evacuate them from Nasir came under attack.

East African bloc urges South Sudan to free arrested officials
Reuters  |  Mar 13, 2025

The arrest of officials including a deputy military chief and two ministers allied to Machar in the capital Juba last week, coupled with a wave of dea...

General among dozens killed in attack on UN helicopter evacuation in South Sudan
Reuters  |  Mar 08, 2025

Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that "approximately 27" troops were killed.

IGAD envoys urge end to armed violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 08, 2025

The violence in Upper Nile State comes at a time when South Sudan is undergoing an extended transitional period, meant to implement key provisions of...

South Sudan security forces release Peacebuilding minister, vice presidency says
Reuters  |  Mar 08, 2025

South Sudan has formally been at peace since the 2018 agreement ended the five-year conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of people, but violence...

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