South Sudan: Machar returns to Juba on Tuesday

The south Sudan rebels have indicated that their leader, Riek Machar, would return to Juba on Tuesday.

The rebel leader was schedule to return on last Monday, but could not, the rebel group blamed international partners for the delays, AFP reports.

According to one of the spokesmen of the rebels, William Ezekiel, Machar would return on Tuesday to the capital, Juba.

“We hope to be able to organize a plane that Machar could take on Tuesday.We hope that the Chief of Staff and the soldiers will depart on Monday,” he said.

Splm-IO chief of staff Simon Gatwech has returned to Juba with 100+ men. Riek Machar had saiid he would not come back before his army chief.

— James Copnall (@JamesCopnall) April 25, 2016

Machar had missed an international deadline to return to Juba on Saturday to become Vice-president under a peace deal hoped to end a two year war.

He claimed the government denied him permission.

He had appeared at an airport in Ethiopia ready to return to the capital, but said the government in Juba failed to grant him clearance to fly despite monitors completing the required weapons verification.

According to Daily Nation news, UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon on Friday pressed the rebel leader to return to Juba “without delay” and begin work on a transitional government.

Ban said president Salva Kiir’s government had agreed to a compromise proposal on the arrangement for Machar’s return adding that the breakthrough should help with the swift formation of the new unity government.

The UN boss urged Machar to travel to Juba “without further conditions which could jeopardise the fragile peace process and prolong the suffering of the South Sudanese people.”

Under the new peace deal, Machar is to return to the post of Vice president in a new 30-month transitional government leading to elections.

AFP, AGENCY