Alfred Lado Gore, the deputy chairman of the SPLM-In Opposition, landed in the South Sudanese capital Juba this afternoon.

Lado was met by SPLM-IO chief negotiator Taban Deng Gai and the head of the government's reception committee Akol Paul. He was accompanied by Edward Lino of Abyei and 40 members of SPLM-IO from Kenya's capital Nairobi.

"Peace cannot be reversed," Lado told the press upon arrival. "I don’t think we have to go back to the state of affairs we have been in before...now we are moving forward and we want our people to enjoy the freedom they have sacrificed their lives for almost 50 years."

Gore said the arrest of 16 members of the IO team by national security today was very unfortunate.

"I don’t know the circumstances of their arrest; I hope today tomorrow we should be able to find out why they were arrested. If it is because of my visit then that is unfortunate," he said, adding that peace should mean that people can freely speak their minds.

He said that the SPLM-IO leadership will discuss the issue with SPLM in government to see into it that they resolve the matter peaceful. 

He was asked about his security safety of been back to Juba, he replied, “I am not afraid”.   

“I am not preoccupied with my safety as a revolutionary these are the challenges. Leadership entails risk," he said.

On his part, Akol Paul, representing of government delegation to the reception of Gen Gore, reiterated that his coming demonstrate the party’s willingness to the agreement by making sure that they implement it. 

“I heard about the issue of the people arrested. I wanted to tell you, as government committee that is responsible for the reception of all members of SPLM in opposition who are arriving, we have not received the report of arrest of 16 people but of any issue of such will be looking by the committee and sees what happen," he said.

LISTEN: Speech of government representative Akol Paul on the arrival of Alfred Lado Gore (audio in English)