Vice President Designate Riek Machar will not return from Pagak to Juba today even after both the government and SPLM-IO nominally accepted an international compromise proposal on his return, according to officials on both sides.

A senior government official this morning said that there was no reception planned for Machar today, also reiterating that they wanted ceasefire monitors to first go to Gambella to check the weapons that Machar would be bringing with him.

Minister of Information Michael Makuei said after a cabinet meeting yesterday, “CTSAMM which is the verification body will send a team of verifiers to Gambella to go and verify the 195 soldiers who are coming plus their individual weapons and plus these 20 PKMs and RPGs.”

The Joint Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (JMEC) had originally proposed that its ceasefire monitors (CTSAMM) carry out this task.

“It is thereafter that team will inform the government that they have done verification and based on that recommendation the government will issue the necessary clearance for the planes that will bring them,” Makuei added.

The minister said that the government expected Machar in Juba “probably Monday.”

“We expect Dr Riek Machar to move in soon as possible together with general chief of staff. Any delay the day after the government will not be ready for it. Any further conditions will not, and I repeat, will not be accepted by the government of South Sudan,” he said

“If the [ceasefire monitoring] team leaves today then definitely the team will be there to do the verification and probably by Monday we expect him in Juba,” Makuei further added.

Separately, SPLM-IO officials speaking this morning affirmed the readiness of Riek Machar to go to Juba, but they were unable to confirm when this would take place.

In a related development, diplomats of several countries including the guarantors of the August 2015 peace deal have welcomed the government's decision to accept the JMEC compromise proposal for Machar's return.

They expressed, “deep appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Sudan for its decision to accept the compromise proposal, for the sake of peace,” according to a statement circulated on behalf of the JMEC partners by Ambassador Robert van den Dool of the Netherlands.

They also welcomed the decision by the SPLM/A (IO) to accept the compromise proposal, saying that it was necessary for Machar “to uphold his commitment to return to Juba no later than 23 April,” which his today, Saturday.

“The partners reiterated their strong objection to the introduction of new conditions,” stated the diplomats. The JMEC partners group includes China, the East African IGAD countries, the UK, the Netherlands, USA, Norway, Canada, the European Union, the African Union and UNMISS.