Uganda wants Riek Machar to return to Juba
Apr 21, 2016
Machar had earlier said that he would return to Juba on April 18
The foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Ambassador James Mugume has said that Uganda wants South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar to return to Juba.
Mugume said that Uganda, which has played a significant role in pacifying South Sudan, will be extremely happy if Machar returned to Juba "as early as yesterday".
Machar fled Juba in December 2013 following the outbreak of fighting between soldiers loyal to him and his rival the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir.
Machar had earlier said that he would return to Juba on April 18 to form a transitional government with Kiir but the deadline passed before he could.
His return to Juba was part of the IGAD led talks and agreement aimed at bringing the fighting that has caused deaths of hundreds of people and displacement of over 2.3 million people to a halt.
The fighting in Juba erupted in in December 2013 months after Kiir sacked Machar as his vice president. Both men are supported by soldiers from their tribes. Kiir is a Dinka while Macha is Nuer.
Uganda was forced to deploy its troops on invitation of Kiir to contain the violence but have since pulled out, allowing IGAD to take the lead.
The fighting in South Sudan is one of the topics being discussed at the 13th Summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects that is running from April 13-April 23.