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South Sudan president to skip regional leader's meet in Uganda

Xinhua, April 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan President Salva Kiir will not attend a regional summit scheduled for Saturday in Uganda due to the situation back home, a top foreign affairs official here has said.

James Mugume, permanent secretary ministry foreign affairs Uganda told Xinhua in an interview on Friday that Kiir will skip the summit due to the uncertain return of his former vice Riek Machar.

Machar was expected to return to the South Sudan capital Juba as one of the key elements in implementing the peace agreement aimed at ending fighting in the country.

"President Kiir will not attend the summit. He has formally delegated the acting foreign affairs minister to represent him," said Mugume.

The return of Machar, who has been the rebel and opposition leader since his sacking in 2013, was delayed on Monday due to "logistical reasons".

Experts believe Machar's return and swearing-in will mark an important step in a implementing the August 2015 deal to end the country's civil war.

The regional summit that will be attended by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwanda's Paul Kagame will discuss measure to fast track the region's economic development. Endit