An air of cautious optimism prevailed in Juba among the public the day before the arrival of rebel leader Riek Machar, who has signed a peace deal with the South Sudanese government making him vice president.
A number of citizens polled by Radio Tamazuj on Sunday in Juba expressed joy at the upcoming return of the former vice president because it would mean progress in implementing the peace agreement which might help alleviate the suffering of the citizens.
Some, however, expressed fears of possible tensions between supporters of Machar and security services. The government has declined to permit a mass reception for the arriving opposition chief.
Stanislaus, one of the citizens interviewed by Radio Tamazuj, said he would go out on the street on Monday upon the arrival of Machar and said he was not afraid of the security services, he was overjoyed for there to be peace.
For her part, Mary said that the citizens do not want anything from the government other than implementation of the peace, stressing that they have suffered a lot and the government should open the door to and allow anyone to go out to celebrate.
Meanwhile, a senior source in the SPLM-IO who preferred to withhold his identity said that they still expect to encourage supporters to turn out to receive Machar in spit of the government’s refusal of a public rally.
Ramadan Hassan Baku, deputy head of the SPLM-IO Advance Team in Juba, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that they completed all arrangements for the reception of Machar on Monday. He expected that senior government and SPLM-IO leaders would receive Machar at the airport and then proceed to the swearing-in of Machar as first vice president at the presidential palace.