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PAGAK - 16 Jun 2017

Machar's group says ready to reciprocate gov't ceasefire but sets condition

File photo: Riek Machar meets with his supporters after landing at Juba international airport on April 26, 2016 (AFP)
File photo: Riek Machar meets with his supporters after landing at Juba international airport on April 26, 2016 (AFP)

South Sudanese rebels said they would reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Salva Kiir last month once IGAD countries end Riek Machar’s exile.

Machar, who fled to Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2016 after fierce fighting in Juba, is being held in South Africa to prevent him from going back to South Sudan.

The military spokesperson of the SPLA-IO forces, William Gatjiath Deng, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that their forces are not abided by the unilateral ceasefire declared by the government in Juba.

“We are not part of the ceasefire declared by Kiir because it a ceasefire between the government and Taban Deng who claims that is the leader of SPLA-IO,” said Gatjiath.

Gatjiath stressed that the East Africa's security and trading bloc and the international community should end Machar’s confinement and detention in South Africa if they want peace in South Sudan.

“Dr. Riek is the commander-in-chief and he is the one who can make peace, so we cannot talk of peace without Dr. Riek who is responsible for declaration of ceasefire,” he said.

The rebel spokesman accused the IGAD countries of lacking seriousness to engage in serious peace in South Sudan.

The IGAD leaders recently welcomed the recent declaration by Kiir of a unilateral ceasefire in South Sudan and called upon him to follow up the strict implementation of the ceasefire.

They also urged the armed opposition groups to reciprocate the call for a ceasefire as well as to renounce violence.