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THE COUNTDOWN TO MACHAR’S ARRIVAL
Juba, South Sudan | AFP
BREAKING: Plane carrying South Sudan rebel leader and first vice president designate Riek Machar touches down at Juba International Airport.
— Allan Olingo (@allanolingo) April 26, 2016
South Sudan’s rebel chief Riek Machar finally returned to Juba on Tuesday and was sworn in as vice-president of the world’s newest country, calling for “unity” after more than two years of ferocious civil war.
“We need to bring our people together so they can unite and heal the wounds,” said Machar, greeted by ministers, diplomats and the release of white doves as he stepped out of a UN plane, after a week-long delay that had threatened a long-negotiated peace deal.
Machar, who was originally due back on April 18, headed immediately to the presidential palace to be sworn in alongside his longtime arch rival, President Salva Kiir.
Kiir, who shook the hand of Machar and called him “my brother”, said they would “work immediately” to set up a unity government..
Riek Machar’s return to Juba is an important turning point for #SouthSudan. The road ahead may be difficult but I believe peace will prevail
— Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) April 26, 2016
“I am very happy to welcome and warmly receive my brother Dr. Riek Machar,” Kiir said. “I have no doubt that his return to Juba today marks the end of the war and the return of peace and stability to South Sudan.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Machar’s return marked “a new phase” in efforts to seal peace and called for “the immediate formation” of a unity government.”
The peace deal struck in August 2015 to end the brutal war provides for a 30-month transitional government leading to elections.
Machar’s delay in returning to Juba under the terms of the deal had infuriated the international community after months of negotiations spent on getting the rivals to return to the city and share power.
“I am very committed to implement this agreement so that the process of national reconciliation and healing is started as soon as possible, so that the people can have faith in the country that they fought for, for so long,” Machar said on being sworn in.
Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces now in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be an even bigger challenge.
Both sides remain deeply suspicious, and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who now pay no heed to either Kiir or Machar.
Machar’s return had been stalled by arguments that at one point, in a country awash with weapons, came down to a dispute about just over two dozen rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns that the force guarding him were allowed to have.
RELATED STORY: Will Machar return bring peace? (CLICK HERE).
RELATED STORY: Timeline of South Sudan long road to peace (CLICK HERE)
*** UPDATE: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a new unity government to be quickly set up after rebel leader Riek Machar returned to Juba on Tuesday and was sworn in as vice president.
Ban said Machar’s return “marks a new phase in the implementation of the peace agreement” and called “for the immediate formation of the transitional government of national unity,” said a statement from his spokesman.
Storify and twitter FEED of #Machar related stories
