For the last week, South Sudanese have waited for the formation of a transitional government between President Salva Kiir and SPLA-In Opposition leader Riek Machar. But Machar has not come back to Juba.
Here is a look back at the many delays in the process.
Monday 28 March – The first batch of 1370 SPLA-IO troops arrive in Juba. Machar had agreed to return once all 1370 soldiers are in place in the city.
Tuesday 6 April – JMEC announces 12 April as date for Riek Machar’s return to Juba, and says Machar would be accompanied by a delegation of 75 opposition members. Machar declines JMEC’s schedule, says he will return on 18 April.
Sunday 10 April – SPLA-IO publishes a schedule for Machar’s 18 April return. Macher is meant to arrive at Juba International Airport at 1 pm, where he will make a press statement before going to the presidential palace known as “J1” to be sworn in as First Vice President by President Salva Kiir. There will be no public rally for Machar, as the SPLA-IO had wanted.
Monday 11 April – JMEC announces that all 1370 opposition troops have arrived in Juba, fulfilling Machar’s requirement for his return to Juba.
Friday 15 April – Billboards appear throughout Juba with images of Kiir and Machar together.
Friday 15 April – Over 200 people are killed in an attack by a South Sudanese militia in Gambella, Ethiopia, near the border of Maiwut county of South Sudan’s Upper Nile state where Machar was staying at Pagak.
Sunday 17 April – SPLA-IO says Machar’s Chief of General Staff Simon Gatwech will arrive before Machar on 18 April.
Sunday 17 April – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon calls Kiir and Machar. He urges Machar to return, and urges Kiir to remove additional troops from Juba.
Monday 18 April – Juba wakes up to find billboards advertising Machar’s return have been torn down.
Monday, 18 April – Staff at Juba International Airport roll out a red carpet for Machar. Journalists and government ministers show up expecting his arrival.
Monday 18 April – SPLA-IO advance team spokesperson William Ezekiel announces Machar will not return on Monday due to “logistical issues,” but will “certainly” return on Tuesday. Government officials express surprise at Machar’s non-return, and rumours swirl that he will still come back. Throughout the afternoon, various dignitaries including UNMISS chief Ellen Loej show up the airport believing Machar is en route. This information turns out to be incorrect, and Machar does not return. Later it emerges that the Ethiopian government did not give flight clearance for a plane from Dubai to land in Gambella, which is meant to carry Gatwech to Juba.
Monday 18 April – SPLA-In Opposition announces in the evening that Simon Gatwech successfully crosses into Gambella, Ethiopia after a lengthy clearing of his weapons.
Tuesday 19 April – Gatwech arrives at Gambella airport with at least 260 soldiers carrying various weapons.
Tuesday 19 April – SPLA-In Opposition says Machar will not return to Juba because they did not receive flight clearance from Juba for Gatwech’s plane.
Tuesday 19 April – Government spokesman Michael Makuei announces the government did not give flight clearance because the SPLA-IO was bringing at least 260 soldiers plus “anti-tanks, laser-guided missiles, and heavy machine guns.” Makuei claims these soldiers and weapons are not in line with earlier agreements to limit SPLA-IO forces in Juba to just 1410 total soldiers.
Tuesday 19 April – The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) says the peace deal is “at risk” because Machar is not in Juba. The US says it is “gravely disappointed” in Machar for making what they termed a “willful decision” not to return.
Wednesday 20 April – Machar tells Al Jazeera he wants to come to Juba but was denied flight clearance by the government.
Wednesday 20 April – South Sudan’s acting foreign minister corrects numbers given by Makuei the afternoon before, revealing that 260 troops would be well within agreed upon amounts that SPLA-IO can have in Juba. He says the government will allow 195 troops to travel with Machar, but only if they carry AK-47 rifles.
Wednesday 20 April – The SPLA-IO accepts the 195 troop limit, but rejects the restriction on the weapons, saying they should be allowed to bring a total of 20 rocket propelled grenade launchers and 20 light PKM machine guns too.
Wednesday 20 April – International diplomats in Juba hold an emergency meeting where they come up with an ultimatum: Machar returns by Saturday 23 April with 195 troops, 20 RPGs, and 20 PKMs, or JMEC should refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
Thursday 21 April – JMEC holds an emergency meeting to discuss ultimatum.
Thursday 21 April – Two planeloads of unarmed opposition supporters land in Juba.
Thursday 21 April – SPLA-IO chief negotiator Taban Deng announces he accepts the international ultimatum. Government spokesman Michael Makuei rejects it.
Friday 22 April – Government announces it accepts JMEC ultimatum, but adds that CTSAMM must first verify the 195 soldiers and their weapons. Makuei says Machar cannot return to Juba until Monday, 25 April, and says they will not allow him to return after that date in case he does not for any reason.
Friday 22 April – JMEC welcomes the government’s decision to allow 20 RPGs and 20 PKMs along with 195 troops. The Troika of US, UK, and Norway says it is “deeply disappointed” in Machar’s failure to return to Juba, and congratulates the government on its “maximum flexibility.” “We will pursue appropriate measures against anyone who further frustrates implementation of the peace agreement,” the Troika says.
Saturday 23 April – SPLA-IO spokesman Nyargi Roman says in the morning that the government has not provided flight clearance. Machar enters Gambella, Ethiopia and travels to airport. By mid-afternoon, the government’s Nation Security Services approve Machar to return on Monday. SPLA-IO also announces Machar will return on Monday.
Saturday 23 April – JMEC deadline for Machar’s return ends without Machar in Juba. Diplomats do not refer the matter to the UN Security Council.