All seems set for a crucial peace talk towards ending the ongoing civil war in South Sudan with news of the arrival of rebel leader Riek Machar in Ethiopia.
The rebel leader is reported to have arrived on Wednesday for the meeting with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Wednesday’s talks is to negotiate an end to the current civil war.
Riek Machar accepted the invitation from the Ethiopian Prime Minister for further talks with President Kiir in the East African country.
Riek Machar arrives for talks
“Yes, I can confirm to you that our chairman has arrived in Addis Ababa airport this morning,” rebel spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel is reported by Reuters to have said about Mr. Machar.
“Riek Machar has arrived,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman Meles Alem is also reported by Reuters to have said.
Riek Machar fled South Sudan after falling out with his former boss, Salva Kiir. He is under house arrest in South Africa.
The meeting will be the first time both leaders will be meeting after signing a peace deal in 2015. The deal never materialized.
Regional bloc efforts
The upcoming talks, a move by the Ethiopian prime minister, has the support of the regional grouping IGAD.
Efforts are meant to mediate and get parties to seal a new deal. The plan is for the country to return to a power sharing agreement and ending the war.
Thousands of people have died in the 2013 civil war after troops loyal to the rebel Machar clashed with government troops.
Source: Africafeeds.com
