KAMPALA: South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar is on Sunday expected to announce his return to the capital Juba, one week after Ugandan troops announced they were pulling out of the war-ravaged country.
The fallout between Machar and President Salva Kiir followed accusations leveled against the former, of plotting a coup, accusations that resulted in a war that has killed thousands and left millions displaced.
Under an agreement signed by the warring parties in Addis Ababa on August 26, 2015, Dr Machar is recognized as the First Vice President of South Sudan but it is not clear whether his planned return to is accordance with the agreement.
But according to a statement issued by the rebels’ deputy spokesperson Dickson Gatluak Jock on Saturday, Dr Machar will make the announcement on return from the United States where he attended meetings with top US officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
“The briefing will be on when the first team of the chairman [Machar] will be going to Juba,” Galuak Jock said.
Mr Galuak Jock also says Dr Machar will also talk about the security arrangements in South Sudan and give his position on the proposed creation of 28 new states by President Salva Kiir.
The UPDF deployed in South Sudan in 2013 December to ostensibly protect Uganda’s interests but last week government announced the army’s withdrawal.
The UPDF withdrawal is in compliance with the Addis Ababa Agreement that directed all foreign troops in the world’s youngest nation to withdraw within 45 days.
