South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar has not returned to the capital as planned because the government did not clear a flight for his top general, a rebel spokesman said Tuesday.
It is not known when Machar will return to Juba, spokesman William Ezekiel told The Associated Press.
The government demanded the plane meant to carry rebel General Simon Gatwech from Ethiopia[1] receive prior clearance to use South Sudan airspace, he said.
Machar requires Gatwech to arrive in Juba before him. Last year the U.N. Security Council[2] sanctioned Gatwech with an asset freeze and an international travel ban for alleged abuses in South Sudan's conflict.
The government denied flight clearance because the rebels wanted to bring between 260 and 500 rebel troops with Gatwech, more than what had been agreed, said government spokesman Michael Makuei. The rebels had anti-tank rounds, laser-guided missiles, and heavy machine guns, alleged Makuei.
However, the rebels only want to bring 45 troops to bring from Ethiopia, including Gatwech, and they deny the heavy weapons, said rebel spokesman Ezekiel.
Machar was initially expected to return Monday to be sworn in as vice president under President Salva Kiir after more than two years of civil war.
The mutual agreement between the two sides allows the rebels 1,410 soldiers and 1,500 police officers in Juba. At least 1348 soldiers have already arrived, besides 22 police officers, Ezekiel said.
The government is also accused of exceeding troop limits. Makuei declined to say how many government troops are in Juba.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon[3] on Monday called Kiir to remove additional troops from the city.
Tens of thousands of people have died in South Sudan's civil war. Fighting continues despite the peace deal signed last year.
References
- ^ Ethiopia (abcnews.go.com)
- ^ Security Council (abcnews.go.com)
- ^ Ban Ki-moon (abcnews.go.com)
Newer articles:
- Fighting for peace in South Sudan - 20/04/2016 22:16
- South Sudan: Riek Machar 'delayed over weapons dispute' - 20/04/2016 16:34
- South Sudan: Worries That Peace Deal May Collapse - 20/04/2016 10:01
- Uncertainty over South Sudan rebel leader's expected return - 19/04/2016 22:48
- South Sudan: Waiting for Machar - 19/04/2016 16:30
Older news items
- Ethiopia vows to pursue South Sudan gunmen who killed 200, kidnapped 100 children in cross-border raid - 19/04/2016 10:09
- South Sudan rebel leader's homecoming fails again - 19/04/2016 08:43
- South Sudan war: Who is vice-president and rebel leader Riek Machar? - 19/04/2016 08:25
- Once seen as White House triumph, new nation of South Sudan descends into war, misery - 18/04/2016 15:26
- South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar postpones return to Juba - 18/04/2016 04:22
Latest news items (all categories):
- UNDP and the Office of the Vice President Launches the Women and Youth Leadership Program in South Sudan - 14/02/2025 11:37
- The Grave Blunders And The Paradoxical Ways In Leadership Sector - 14/02/2025 11:32
- ADF approves $153.66 million for Uganda-South Sudan electricity interconnection project - 13/02/2025 20:48
- Rwandan peacekeepers in South Sudan get UN service medals for their service - 13/02/2025 20:44
- Afreximbank seeks to claw back US$657mn debt from South Sudan - 13/02/2025 20:30
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan, Sudan fail to agree on oil - 28/01/2012 17:38
- South Sudan won’t restart oil production until Sudan agrees to demands - 29/01/2012 11:38
- Tshisekedi warns EACRF will ‘leave’ east DRC if they don’t act on rebels - 10/05/2023 01:10
- US warns that Sudan fighting could turn into 'protracted' conflict - 05/05/2023 03:50
- Egypt Petroleum Minister to Speak in Juba, Egyptian Oil Industry Poised to Support South Sudan Growth - 23/08/2019 05:05
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 71824 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22388 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21600 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19415 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19248 times