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South Sudan's ex-Veep set to return to capital after 2-year war

South Sudan

South Sudan’s Vice President, Riek Machar is set to return to the capital on Monday.

He is back to form a transitional government with President Salva Kiir two years after war erupted due to differences.

The move follows talks between Kiir and his former deputy turned rebel leader Machar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May 2014.

The two leaders had earlier met and signed a ceasefire deal but it collapse weeks later.

Violence spread across the country and was fought along ethnic lines, the UN said at the time.

Tomorrow: South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar returns to Juba for the first time in 3 years https://t.co/Iui2kcPn9W

— Zapaday.com (@zapaday) April 17, 2016

Soldiers belonging to the South Sudanese military and soldiers loyal to Riek Machar were both accused by the U.N. of committing murder, rape among other sexual abuses.

The unity deal was made possible after Machar was re-appointed by a state decree to become vice-president in February 2016.

In preparations for Machar’s return, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has helped Machar’s group transport 802 military and police officers to Juba, including two of its generals.

The economy is yet to recover from the on-off fighting episodes that have slashed down oil revenue and weakened its currency.

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