By Kei Emmanuel Duku
IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Dr. Ambassador Ismail Wais is in Nairobi for talks with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs on the evolving political situation in South Sudan.
Ambassador Wais, acting on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, engaged in an in-depth exchange with the Cabinet Secretary on the evolving and challenging situation in the country.
The high-level meeting served to reaffirm IGAD’s critical and indispensable role as the guarantor of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Both parties underscored their shared and unwavering commitment to fostering and sustaining regional collaboration.
This collaborative effort is seen as essential in supporting the ongoing pursuit of peace, stability, and progress for the people of South Sudan.
The discussions highlighted the urgent need for continued diplomatic engagement to address the complex political landscape in South Sudan and ensure the full implementation of the R-ARCSS.
Dr. Machar’s current detention has led to the unravelling of SPLM-IO cohesion, with key figures fleeing or going into hiding, and internal disputes escalating into division of the SPLM-IO and the establishment of a temporary leadership structure.
The resurgence of violence since March 2025, with over 165,000 people fleeing with over 100,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries
The UN describes conditions as “darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts,” with intensifying hate speech and misinformation. There are also reports of deliberate attacks on hospitals and concerns about looming famine.