The East Africa regional bloc (IGAD) has said South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr Riek Machar is no longer under travel restrictions in the region.

A communique after IGAD heads of state and government met in Djibouti on Sunday said Riek Machar is now free to travel to any of the members of the bloc.  At the IGAD summit, Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng represented South Sudan.

“[The Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government] underscored that currently there are no travel restrictions of any kind imposed by IGAD on the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr Riek Machar Teny,” the regional bloc said after its 38th extraordinary summit.

IGAD imposed travel restrictions on Machar soon after war erupted again in the nation’s capital Juba in July 2016. Machar had been under house arrest in South Africa.

 In 2018, Machar was given permission to reside in neighbouring Sudan from where he engaged in peace talks that culminated in the September 2018 peace deal.

After the signing of the revitalized peace agreement, several IGAD officials said the restrictions on the South Sudanese opposition leader had been lifted, but had not issued a formal statement.

In February 2020, Machar and several other opposition figures returned to Juba and formed the Revitalized Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

Peace implementation

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has congratulated the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) and the parties for “the commendable progress” made in the implementation of the peace agreement.

The bloc also applauded the appointment of 9 out of the 10 state governors, as well as the agreement on the allocation of positions at the state and local levels; and called for the expeditious conclusion of the remaining appointments.

The regional leaders also appreciated the resumption of the peace talks between the unity government and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and commended the government and SSOMA for their commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement of December 21, 2017.

IGAD is an eight-member economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.