South Sudanese opposition leader Riek Machar returned to Sudan on Wednesday morning, after attending an ecumenical retreat at the Vatican, the opposition said.
The retreat, hosted by Pope Francis at the Vatican last week, brought together South Sudanese political leaders for 24 hours of prayer.
Puok Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information, told Radio Tamazuj that Machar returned to Khartoum from the Vatican where he took part in the spiritual retreat.
Puok said Pope Francis urged the leaders to respect the peace agreement and resolve their differences.
“The Vatican retreat aimed at solidifying peace. The leaders pledged to resolve their differences during the retreat but lack of funds to implement the agreement remains a challenge,” he said.
The opposition official described the retreat as an "opportunity" for trust building among the parties to work for the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
He pointed out that key provisions of the peace agreement have not been implemented. “We are committed to the peace agreement but we want the unity government to be formed after the implementation of security arrangements,” he said.
Puok noted that the parties needed ample time before forming a transitional government of national unity.
South Sudan government, Puok said, has shown a lack of political will to fund the implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
Under pressure from the international community, SPLM-IO, other opposition parties and the government in Juba signed the peace accord under which Machar will again become first vice president.
The deal calls for a functional unity government by May 12.