South Sudan Peace Deal Under Threat

South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar maintains that he is unable to return to Juba to take up his former position as vice president in a power-sharing government as required by a peace deal signed by the President and Machar in September 2018.

As part of the deal Machar is expected to resume his position as vice president after he was fired from the position in 2013. Following his dismissal fighting broke out in which an estimated 400,000 lost their lives and more than four million are thought to have been displaced.

The power-sharing deal is due to commence on May 12. However, International Crisis Group has warned that the deal may collapse.

Machar claims that security concerns are preventing his return and the fulfilment of a peace deal that ended more than five years of conflict. Machar left Juba in 2016 following clashes between his troops and the government.

Machar and his team are, however, expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, later this week in order to attend further meetings regarding implementation of the peace agreement. President Salva Kiir is not expected to attend in person, but will send representatives to participate on his behalf.