South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar has departed from the Ethiopian border town of Gambella headed to the capital Juba, local media report.
The vice-president designate is expected in Juba anytime from now to take up his new post in the AU-backed peace deal that will see the formation of a transitional unity government.
Machar was previously due in Juba on April 18, but failed to show up, citing failure by the government to honour some agreements in the peace deal.
The rebel leader had refused to return to Juba before his chief of general stall Simon Gatwech.
His troops have reportedly already arrived in the capital to receive him.
Western forces have been piling pressure on both factions to enter the peace agreement in order to facilitate a return of peace in the world’s youngest nation.
South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused Riek Machar, his then deputy of plotting to overthrow his government.
Machar refuted the claims but went ahead to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
