South Sudan rebel leader Machar back in Juba after two years

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar yesterday returned to the capital Juba for the first time in more than two years.

President Salva Kiir, left, and Riek Machar in June. Picture: AP

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar returned to the capital Juba for the first time in two years yesterday to take part in a peace ceremony.

Mr Machar, who under the terms of a peace deal is to be ­reinstated as vice-president, had not set foot in the city since he fled in July 2016 under a hail of gunfire when an earlier peace accord collapsed.

The rebel chief arrived at Juba airport at 9.30am and was welcomed by President Salva Kiir, Mr Machar’s former ally turned bitter enemy. The two were to join regional leaders at the ceremony last night to publicly welcome the most recent peace agreement, signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in September.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Machar would remain in Juba after the ceremony, as his aides have expressed concerns over his safety in the city.

South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 when Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar — then his deputy — of plotting a coup. The conflict split the country along ethnic lines and led to mass rapes, the forced ­recruitment of child soldiers and attacks on civilians.

AFP