The much anticipated arrival of South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar in Juba has been postponed by at least 24 hours.
Machar was scheduled to jet into the capital on Monday morning but did not show up.
There has been no reason given for the postponement of his arrival, and is now expected to arrive on Tuesday morning.
Machar’s loyalists were at the Juba International Airport to receive their leader, but at around 0700 GMT got news that he wouldn’t be arriving just yet.
Roads leading to the airport were closed and security heightened in the capital in anticipation of his arrival.
Machar’s supporters were seen dressed in T-shirts branded with their leader’s image to welcome him back into the capital where he fled about two years ago.
The SPLM representative at the UN Miyong Kuon said Machar’s arrival was juts delayed but not aborted. He said that the rebel leader will now be arriving in Juba tomorrow, and will be received just as planned.
“Machar will come. There has just been a delay but he will come to Juba,” he said.
He also expressed his hope for the return of peace in the world’s youngest nation, saying that is the only way through which South Sudan will develop.
