Machar to visit Juba POC for the first time since 2013

JUBA, FEBRUARY 20^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition leader and the country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny will on Sunday take part in a peace prayer and will address the internally displaced persons at the former POC in Juba.

According to an invitation card extended to Sudans Post, the office of the first vice president said the landmark prayer will take place on Sunday, February 26^th 2023.

“Following the apostolic pilgrimage of the Canterbury and Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland and subsequent public announcement by H.E Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (PhD) during the ecumenical prayer on Saturday, 4^th February 2023 in Nyakuron West to conduct a peace prayer at the POC, therefore, the office of the first vice president is kindly inviting you to attend the peace prayer,” the invitation card reads in part.

When contacted by Sudans Post, the acting spokesman in the office of the First Vice President and SPLM-IO director of information and public relations Puok Both Baluang said the first vice president will be accompanied by senior government officials such as ministers.

“Yes the invitation card you have seen is authentic and the prayer will be conducted next Sunday, which will be 26^th February 2023 and His Excellency will be accompanied to the former POC by a number of senior government officials including ministers,” Baluang said on phone from Juba.

RESTRICTIONS ON MACHAR NOT YET LIFTED

Baluang further revealed to Sudans Post that Machar’s freedom status has not yet changed and that he is still restricted to the capital Juba, despite commitment of his rival President Salva Kiir Mayardit to full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“Yes, his status has not yet changed and he is still restricted to the capital,” he said when asked by a Sudans Post reporter.

Machar returned to Juba for the first time since July 2016 in February 2020 to form the current transitional government with Kiir, his main rival who accused him of a “coup” following outbreak of violence in December 2013.

Machar who resisted allies’ warnings against “premature” return to Juba has constantly complained that his freedom is only confined to the capital Juba and that he cannot visit his forces nor his constituency which may go well with the dissemination of peace provided for in the revitalized peace deal.

His next week’s visit to Juba IDP camp – the first since outbreak of civil war in 2013 – will likely play an important role in the return of the displaced to their homes, something President Kiir has been calling for since signing of the peace agreement.