Ruto Calls Kiir, Machar Over Arrests; Rebel Attacks

Kenya's president William Ruto (chimpreports)

Kenyan President William Ruto has spoken to his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir and First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, over the escalating security situation in the East African nation.

Ruto, in an official statement posted on his social media account, said he spoke with the two political and military rivals on Thursday morning.

“This morning, I spoke with President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan and First Vice-President Riek Machar about the escalating security situation in the country,” said Ruto.

The Kenyan leader said he appealed to Kiir and Machar, the armed opposition leader, to give dialogue a chance to defuse the growing tension, which has already resulted in the arrest of a military general and a national minister.

“I implored both leaders to engage in dialogue towards fostering peace in the country even as the region works towards the stabilization of South Sudan under IGAD’s Strategic Framework,” added Ruto.

Ruto also revealed that the leaders of the region are already in consultations to devise mechanisms to address the problems in South Sudan.

“I also informed the two leaders that regional consultations are underway to determine the best path forward for the situation in South Sudan,” he said.

The crisis started when the White Army attacked and overran SSPDF positions in Nasir, Upper Nile State, and declared control of the town bordering Ethiopia.

The situation in Nasir sparked uncertainty and a chain of reactions in Juba, including the accusation of SPLA-IO being behind the aggressive successes of the White Army and subsequent arrests.

The South Sudan Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, while addressing journalists in Juba on Wednesday, played a recording alleging that the White Army militias were chanting viva SPLA-IO.

The SPLA-IO Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, who is also the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces (DCDF) of the precariously integrated SSPDF and the minister of petroleum, Puot Kang, has been arrested.

Source: https://chimpreports.com/south-sudan-ruto-calls-kiir-machar-over-arrests-rebel-attacks/