Latest reports from South Sudan claim that a delegation from the African Union which was to hold an audience with the first Vice President, Riek Machar in Juba was forced to be cancelled
High-level diplomatic sources reported the cancellation of a secret meeting which was scheduled between a team of officials from the African Union (AU) and Riek Machar, the First Vice President of South Sudan, who has been under detention since March 2025.
The meeting was reportedly halted after President Salva KiirMayardit allegedly intervened and refused to allow the AU delegation to see Machar.
The African Union delegation was officially visiting Juba to discuss humanitarian issues but sought behind the scenes to meet VP Riek Machar as part of efforts to contain the political crisis.
However, government officials in South Sudan insisted that there would be no form of communication between the Vice President and people from outside before the completion of investigations against Machar.
President Salva Kiir’s government is accusing the country’s Vice President of incitement of chaos and violence.
It is believed that Machar is under house arrest, but for nearly five months nobody has seen him and people wonder if the Vice President was safe, healthy and being taken care of.
Recently, the South Sudan government reportedly confiscated all communication devices from the wife of Riek Machar.
Commenting on the issue, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition’s (SPLM-IO) spokesperson, Fal Mayi Deng, denied any knowledge of arrangements for the meeting between AU and Machar.
On the other hand, political observers warned of serious repercussions if Juba continues to hold Machar in detention as it would negatively affect the country’s stability, especially amid escalating military movements in some states.
The new development comes at a time when reports indicate increasing international pressure on the government to release Riek Machar, amid warnings of the collapse of the fragile 2018 peace agreement. —