The Kenyan government has expressed deep concern over recent developments in South Sudan following reports of the detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

In an official statement signed by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Kenya urged all parties to prioritise peace and support the ongoing peace agreements under IGAD’s Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“The Kenyan government is concerned with the developments in South Sudan following reports of the detention of Dr. Riek Machar last night,” the statement reads in part.

It further reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace and calls on all involved parties to seek a peaceful resolution.

“The Kenyan government calls on all parties in South Sudan to prioritise peace in the country by giving room to the ongoing peace agreements under the auspices of IGAD’s Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” the statement reads.

Kenya also underscored the importance of regional stability, urging South Sudanese leaders to exercise restraint, cease hostilities, and uphold the revitalised peace agreement in their people’s best interests.

“We urge all the leaders in South Sudan to exercise utmost restraint, cease hostilities, and honour the revitalised peace agreement in the best interests of millions of their people,” the statement adds.

Kenya on S. Sudan’s peace talks

On February 20, 2025, President William Ruto announced the adjournment of the South Sudan peace talks, citing the need for further consultations among the parties involved in the Tumaini Initiative.

The decision followed a meeting with opposition holdout groups from South Sudan after a request from the South Sudan government delegation for additional time to facilitate discussions that would inform the next steps.

“Met the Opposition Hold-Out Group of South Sudan and agreed, at the request of the South Sudan Government delegation, that the mediation process that has been going on in Nairobi adjourns until March 2025 to facilitate consultations that will inform the way forward,” Ruto said in his statement.

The opposition delegation included General Pagan Amum, General Paul Malong, General Stephen Buoy, General Mario Lada, Mr. Lual Dau, and Dr. Cirinho Hiteng.

“At the request of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Kenya has been facilitating the mediation process for the past 11 months in an effort to resolve the political stalemate that has resulted in a serious humanitarian situation and difficult security challenges,” Ruto added.

Tumaini Initiative

The Tumaini Initiative, launched by Kenya on May 9, 2024, is a high-level mediation process aimed at resolving the conflict in South Sudan.

It seeks to bring together all South Sudanese holdout groups that have not signed the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) peace agreement.

The 2018 agreement aimed to end South Sudan’s five-year civil war, which claimed over 400,000 lives.

The initiative was established after South Sudan President Salva Kiir requested President Ruto to lead the mediation efforts, following the stalled Rome-based negotiations under the Community of Sant’Egidio.

Latest Developments in South Sudan. pic.twitter.com/Ku4ff8DT4V

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) March 27, 2025