A spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) on Wednesday refuted reports that their leader Riek Machar has criticized President Kiir for approving the deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) without reading its mandate.

Pouk Both Baluang said in a statement that Machar has not criticized the President, describing the report as “fabricated.”

The opposition group welcomed the arrival of the first batch of regional troops in the capital Juba, while urging the international community to expedite the full deployment of the regional protection force.

Pouk reiterated his group’s commitment to peaceful means of resolving the ongoing conflict in the country. He called on the region bring an end to Riek Machar’s forced detention in South Africa in order to engage in the peace process.