IGAD still ‘silent’ on our request for Machar to visit forces – SPLA-O

JUBA – South Sudan’s SPLA-IO has said that the regional bloc, IGAD, which mediated the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, is silent and has not yet responded to a request by SPLA-IO chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual for Machar to be allowed to visit him for briefing on the status of the peace implementation.

Last month, the powerful and top opposition commander wrote to IGAD asking the regional body to allow opposition leader and First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to visit him for consultation over developments in the implementation of the peace agreement.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, Brigadier-General William Gatjiath Deng said they haven’t heard from the regional body since they were told that the IGAD would convene to deliberate on the opposition military chief’s request.

“No, not yet up to now, IGAD, AU and Troika are still silent but I don’t know why,” he said. “I think they are going to response, otherwise this will not be a good gesture by teh regional bloc.”

Machar is currently in Juba and he is not allowed to move around the country because he is still under house arrest despite being a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and being the country’s First Vice President.

The SPLM-IO has continued to call for Machar’s release, but no time frame has been provided by the IGAD as to when the opposition leader will be freed from the house arrest.