More troops belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition returned to Juba on Thursday in an operation facilitated in part by international ceasefire monitors and the United Nations.

The former rebel troops are loyal to Riek Machar, who signed a peace deal with the South Sudanese government last August, making him the vice president-designate. Machar remains currently in Nairobi, however, awaiting the arrival of more of his bodyguards to Juba before making his return.

The 130 who arrived yesterday brings the total number of IO troops in Juba now to 169. 

According to Festus Mogae, chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the transfer of the opposition troops is being carried out in response to a plan that he issued on 23 February, calling for a total of 1,370 SPLM-IO troops as a minimum threshold for Riek Machar's return to Juba.

Mogae told the UN Security Council on Thursday in New York that the opposition troops are being brought to Juba by a combination of United Nations and charter aircraft.

“The role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the operation has been critical, not only in terms of availing aircraft, but in providing crucial logistical support to this operation, both in Malakal and Juba,” said the former Botswana president.

He added that flights are planned to continue over the coming week until the full complement of 1,370 SPLM-IO troops has been transported.

Mogae said that he is “cautiously optimistic” that the transitional government of national unity will be formed by the middle of next month.