South Sudan on Thursday told the United Nations that it expects hundreds of rebel troops to be airlifted to Juba this week, paving way for the return of rebel leader Riek Machar.
Machar’s arrival in Juba is seen as a key step towards the formation of a unity government that was agreed under a peace accord to end a brutal war which has killed tens of thousands of people over the past two years.
South Sudan’s Deputy Ambassador Joseph Moum Malok told the UN Security Council that “by the end of this week, if everything remains as planned… the entire 1 370 agreed forces will be in Juba paving the way for Dr Riek Machar to eventually come to Juba.”
South Sudan descended into war in 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his then deputy Riek Machar of plotting to overthrow his government.
Machar has been living in exile in Kenya and Ethiopia, but was re-appointed vice-president in February this year.
Under the peace deal signed in August, Machar will join Kiir in a new 30-month transitional government leading to elections.
