Confusion reigns over South Sudanese ex-political detainees return to Juba

November 25, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan announced Wednesday that its former political detainees would return to Juba Thursday, but this was disputed by it’s leaders in Kenya.

The government spokesperson, Michael Makuei, said the ex-detainees would return to the nation as agreed in Ethiopia at the security arrangement meetings.

“Rebecca Nyadeng [wife of South Sudan’s fallen hero John Garang] will also becoming to Juba other members of the G10 except Pagan Amum,” said Makuei.

Nyadeng has been living in Kenya since the outbreak of conflict in mid-December 2013.

However, John Luk, the coutry’s former justice minister and a spokesman for the former political detainees told Radio Miraya the trip would not be possible having failed to secure air tickets.

“We were supposed to come to Juba tomorrow [Thursday] on the understanding that the government was organising tickets for us as discussed with them yesterday,” he said.

Government sources, however, told Sudan Tribune the ex-detainees would be in Juba on Thursday.

The armed opposition led by former vice president Riek Machar have yet to send the list of their advance teams for the 26 November visit to Juba, said Makuei, a scenario, pundits argue, could further delay the implementation of the August peace agreement.

(ST)