South Sudan denies sending Raila to Museveni in order to meet VP Machar

Raila was picked to be the special envoy to South Sudan following the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny, who is the country's Interior Minister.

Following the trip, Odinga alleged that his request to meet Machar was denied as President Kiir directed him to meet with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. 

In a press briefing on Monday, South Sudan President Press Secretary David Amuor Majur refuted the claims that President Kiir ordered the former premier to hold discussions with Museveni as a prerequisite to meet VP Machar. 

He added that Odinga's statement was a misrepresentation of diplomatic norms and principles. 

"The suggestion that His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit requested Right Honourable Raila Odinga to meet with the President of Uganda is misrepresenting diplomatic norms and principles," he said. 

"It is essential to clarify that the Right Honourable Odinga's mission to Uganda was pre-arranged."

Further, Majur explained that reports of Machar and his wife being placed under arrest were unfounded and did not reflect reality. 

"The South Sudanese government refutes the assertion that the minister of interior and her spouse, VP Riek Machar are under arrest. This claim is unfounded and does not accurately reflect the reality of the situation." 

This, however, contradicts Government spokesperson Michael Makuei, who recently revealed that Machar was arrested over his alleged involvement in the death of 11 people in the Nasir region. 

Makuei also claimed that Machar contacted his supporters to stir rebellion against the government to disrupt peace within the nation. 

Following his trip to South Sudan, Raila travelled to Entebbe to hold discussions with Museveni and will be required to brief the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders on his diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict between Salva Kiir and his VP.