IGAD says Machar “permanently” returning to Juba

ADDIS ABABA – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has said that main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny is permanently returning to South Sudan’s capital Juba this week or early next week.

A IGAD source told this website that the SPLM-IO leader has agreed to the formation of the revitalized transitional government of national unity which is expected during the third week of February.

“Dr. Riek Machar has accepted to return permanently to Juba. He has accepted to form the government with President Salva Kiir in February,” the IGAD source said.

“He will either return this week or early next week. He will be involved in further negotiation to find way to address the pending issues and if there would be anything not resolved, the new government will take over,” he added.

Machar was in Juba for two weeks. He returned to Khartoum where he resides after talks with President Kiir on the number of states and their boundaries stalled following the announcement by South African Vice President David Mabuza that the contentious issue be resolved through arbitration.

SPLM-IO officials were not available for comment.