Former Unity State governor Taban Deng, a leading figure in the SPLM-IO, has returned to Juba after two years of civil war.

He was accompanied by the opposition group's secretary-general Dhieu Mathok and scores more members of the 'advance team' of the opposition group, which says it wants to return hundreds of members from exile to Juba and other state capitals.

The advance team of SPLM-IO arrived on at least two different flights today. One that arrived in the afternoon brought only 15 members and another flight that arrived after nightfall brought scores more. 

SPLM-IO controls parts of Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states and is also linked with other armed opposition groups elsewhere in the country. The group signed a peace deal with the government in August and has agreed to participate in a unity government and eventually to integrate its forces into a national army.

Under the terms of the peace deal, the SPLM-IO will take a share of the national ministries and the governorships of two states - Upper Nile and Unity - and members of parliament loyal to the SPLM-IO will be restored to their seats.

Britain, Norway welcome return of SPLM-IO to Juba

British diplomats, who helped fund and support the East African-led peace process that culminated in the August peace deal, have welcomed the return of SPLM-IO representatives to Juba on Monday.

“The United Kingdom welcomes the return of the advance party of the SPLM in Opposition who arrived in Juba today,” said Nerys Cross, Head of Political Affairs and Press at the British Embassy Juba.

“Their return is a necessary and important step in the implementation of the peace agreement.  We now expect the various bodies set out in the agreement to be formed and call on them to work quickly and efficiently in order to set up the Transitional Government of National Unity. We again urge all parties to end the fighting once and for all.”

Norway's foreign ministry echoed this position, saying in a press statement that the return of the opposition to Juba “could be a turning point for South Sudan.” The country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende stressed, “This is a long-awaited and important step on the path to peace in South Sudan.”

Photo: Former Unity State governor and SPLM-IO chief negotiator Taban Deng (left) is received by Finance Minister David Deng Athorbei (right) in Juba, 21 December 2015