Ethiopia, Kenya push to end Machar's forced detention: rebels

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Ethiopia, Kenya push to end Machar's forced detention: rebels
File photo: Riek Machar
File photo: Riek Machar

Leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya have informed South Sudan’s opposition
group that the region intends to bring an end to Riek Machar’s forced
confinement in South Africa, a senior rebel official said.

South Sudan’s former First Vice President turned rebel leader is being
held in South Africa to prevent him from going back to his country.

The decision was reportedly reached by IGAD countries in order to keep
him away in the hope of preventing fighting in the world’s youngest
nation.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, a senior opposition official loyal to Riek
Machar, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that the leaders of neighbouring
Ethiopia and Kenya have confirmed to them that they are pushing for
the release of Machar in order to be part of the peace process in
South Sudan.

Manawa, who is a former Jonglei state minister of physical
infrastructure, pointed out that the government’s plans that removing
Machar from circulation would be a blow to his opposition faction and
could sway the ongoing conflict have failed.

However, he said the region has not yet notified the SPLM-IO faction
about the date for Machar’s release in South Africa to engage in the
peace process.

“But we are in contact with the relevant authorities in the African
Union, IGAD member countries and the United Nations, so the SPLM-IO
leadership is working to address the chairman of IGAD on the release
of Riek Machar,” he said.

The opposition official slammed President Kiir for saying that the
decision to exclude Machar from returning to the country was decided
by IGAD member countries in the hope of preventing renewed conflict in
the country.

“What was said by President Kiir contradicts the constitution and the
country’s sovereignty because the president is the one responsible
fully for the security of the country. Actually the detention of Riek
Machar came after a request from the government and the idea was
supported by some IGAD countries,” he said.

Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD), is an 8-member
economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan,
Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.