More South Sudan opposition soldiers arrive in Juba

The South Sudan government has received 39 opposition soldiers allied to designated first-vice president Riek Machar, paving way for Machar's imminent return to Juba to form the transitional government of national unity.

The latest arrival of the rebel forces came after 22 generals of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO) arrived in Juba last week. Machar,who leads SPLM-IO, also indicated recently of his imminent return to Juba after talks with Kenya leader Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

The 39 soldiers who arrived in Juba on Monday represented the first batch of the SPLM-IO armed forces.

Government spokesperson Michael Makuei hailed the arrival of the rebels as a major milestone to the peace process.

"We are happy to receive in Juba the first batch of the SPLM-IO forces. These forces comprise of 39 officers and men. This is the first group that has arrived and the rest will continue to arrive with time," he said late on Monday.

Makuei said more forces are expected to arrive within the week and the final batch will be in Juba before the end of this week, paving way for the arrival of Machar next week.

He called on those who transported them to continue supporting the government.

Meanwhile, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee Chairperson Festus Mogae told Xinhua in an interview that the Chinese government has assisted in preparation for the sites where these soldiers, body guards will stay and has sunk boreholes in Juba on top of donating tents and other equipments to the government.

"The Chinese government also delivered 1,700 tones of Chinese rice not only to feed the opposition soldiers but all presidential guards, because they are now going to be integrated into one force," Mogae said.

Makuei expressed optimism that the process would end by the end of the week to allow Machar to return next week, adding that following the arrival of Machar the Transitional government would be formed in the next two weeks.

SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, said he was expecting Machar to arrive soon, however he did not give any timeframe.

The arrival of the SPLM-IO forces has been a thorny issue in the implementation of the peace process, with Machar expected in Juba after the arrival of 1,370 forces of his security detail. Endit