Embattled former South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar has travelled to South Africa but it is not clear he will seek asylum there.
Early last month the SPLM-IO faction allied to former vice president Riek Machar said it was planning to relocate its leader to either Kenya or Ethiopia. The announcement was made by Peter Gatkuoth, who said that Machar would also tour some countries to clarify the armed group’s position on the peace agreement after the Juba events.
However, at about the same time Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta said talks spearheaded by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) were underway to try and relocate the rebel leader to South Africa.
But according to another SPLM-IO spokesperson Mabior Garang, their leader, who has been holed in Sudan for about a month, will not seek asylum in South Africa.
In July Machar fled the South Sudan capital Juba for the bushes in the northern part of the country following confrontation between his troops and soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and later moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He later on moved to Khartoum in Sudan, reportedly for treatment and has been staying in his country’s northern neighbour since then.
