Riek Machar
South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar is in Kenya and is expected to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta during his stay.
The
former Vice President was engaged in a series of meetings in Nairobi
Wednesday among them being with a top official from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Kenyan envoy to South Sudan Dalmas Otieno.
President Kenyatta spent the day in Eldoret on official business.
(Read: The war in Juba)
The Nation
has learnt that President Salva Kiir is expected in the country by
Friday in what may seem to be follow-up talks to the Cessation of
Hostilities agreement signed in Addis Ababa earlier this month.
His
visit comes a week after at least ten civilians were been killed and
several others wounded in a rebel assault in South Sudan’s oil-rich
Upper Nile State.
Rebels linked to Dr Machar were accused of being
behind the attack in Barliet County, southeast of the state capital
Malakal South Sudan military spokesman Col Philip Aguer said last
Wednesday.
It was the second time the rebels were
accused of violating a cessation-of-hostilities agreement Mr Kiir signed
with rebel chief Dr Machar about three weeks ago.
However,
in a recent interview, Dr Machar maintained that he is committed to the
peace deal and accused the government of violating the ceasefire.
In
an exclusive interview with the Nation, former South Sudan Ambassador
to the Ezekiel Gatkuoth, who is allied to the Machar faction, said the
leader would not target civilians.
Mr Kiir sacked Dr
Machar from his position as Vice President in July 2013 along with all
his cabinet. In December, fighting erupted in the oil-rich country and
thousands of lives have since been lost.
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