August 30th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s First Vice-President designate and main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny will not return to Juba unless the capital is demilitarized, an aide allied to him said.
President Kiir and Machar signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace deal to end the ongoing civil war in the country.
Under the deal, Machar would return to Juba and take up his previous role as First Vice-President. The capital Juba is supposed to be demilitarized prior to Machar’s return to Juba.
However, as dateline looms for the formation of the unity government, the main armed opposition group has ruled out Machar’s return to Juba without the town being demilitarized first.
“He will not return to Juba for the government formation if the capital is not demilitarized,” the official said. “It is the most important part of the agreement and the stability for the government that is due to be formed in November lies with it.”
