Dr. Machar Set To Land In Juba In One Week

April 04, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– South Sudan’s Dr. Machar, the former Vice President who fled the capital in December 2013, is expected to arrive in Juba in one week time.

According to the latest schedule of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, who has led rebellion for the past two years, should arrive on Tuesday next week to form the Transitional Government of National Unity.

Upon the arrival of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) leader, JMEC will facilitate the first meeting of Mr. Kiir and Dr. Machar in the capital, Juba.

This will be the first time for the two leaders to meet in Juba since the SPLM Conference turned violent on the night of December 15, 2013, a deadly conflict that killed over 20 thousand Nuer civilians in the capital within the first three days of a political conflict turned ethnic.

Despite the bitterness, Machar assures the public that he will build trust to work with Mr. Kiir, however, he fears that the internally displaced persons may not gather courage to leave the protection sites under the auspice of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS).

“It is not my personal security that matters, it is that of the IDPs who have lived in camps for two-and-a half years; they need to come out and feel that they are safe. In regard to President Kiir, I believe we are capable of building confidence and trust in the process of implementing the agreement. “Machar responded to media in Nairobi.

For his security and his advanced team, the IO chairman is confident that 1, 370 troops, who are currently being airlifted to Juba, are enough; however, he strongly emphasizes that the IO may have to deploy the total of 2, 910 troops in Juba for the IDPs to leave the camp.

“Well, if the forces are already in Juba, there is no fear. The advance team is interacting with government forces and they are alright. But the main problem is how to persuade the IDPs in the UNMISS camps to come out. If we deploy our total of 2,910 forces, then the civil population can leave the camp” Machar said

The former Vice President calls for justice, national healing and reconciliation to move the nation forward after a two years conflict that has devastated social fabrics, destroyed property and nearly hundreds thousands of lives.

“Those who committed human-rights violations will have to carry their own cross, including those in the SPLM-IO. But on top of that, national healing and reconciliation is an important project that we should start immediately. ” he said.

According to JMEC calendar, the South Sudan leaders must move very fast to form the transitional government and restore the country as soon as Dr. Riek arrives.

On 13th April, the national parliament will be empowered to Transitional National Parliament, followed by the inauguration of the Transitional Government of National Unity(TGNU) and appointment of transitional ministers the following day.

Within the first one week after the arrival of Dr. Machar, JMEC will facilitate inauguration of TGNU, first meetings with the IMF and world Bank, and chairs the first meeting of the Boundary Commission, the body that will conduct survey on establishment of federalism in the country.

Despite the sign of hopes, more clashes continue in Equatoria and Bhar el Ghazal regions between the forces of Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar.