At last peace is in the horizon for the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan, as the country anticipates the arrival of rebel leader Riek Machar into Juba, where he is poised to take up the post of vice president.
Machar’s deputy, Alfred Ladu Gore, is already in the capital in a series of events that signal the end of the two-year civil war.
Gore is part of an advance party that arrived in Juba to prepare for the return of Machar.
South Sudan decended into chaos in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his then deputy of plotting to overthrow his government, allegations that Machar refuted.
The ensuing tensions saw Machar mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The two-year conflict has killed thousands of people, with around two million reported to have fled their homes.
Last week, more than 1,300 rebel troops loyal to Riek Machar were flown into Juba as part of the terms of the peace deal, signed in August between the government and the rebels. The troops are meant to ensure the security of Machar before his arrival in the capital.
Peace agreements between the two factons have broken down repeatedly over the years, with each side pinning the blame on the other.
The current peace agreement was signed amid a threat of sanctions from the United Nations.
Fighting was supposed to stop immediately – but there have been frequent violations.
President Kiir and Mr Machar have agreed to share out ministerial positions. The agreement returns the government to where it was before the war broke out.
