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Spotlight: South Sudan's Machar sworn in as VP, vows reconciliation

Xinhua, April 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar has sorn in as first vice president, hours after his return to the capital Juba on Tuesday.

Upon his arrival, Marchar expressed his commitment to the implementation of a peace deal meant to end more than two years of civil war.

Welcomed by senior government officials and diplomats at the Juba International Airport amid tight security, Machar told journalists: "I am happy with the welcome that I have received at the airport. I hope, with my arrival, we shall finish the obstacles and get to the implementation of the agreement."

The peace deal, signed by President Salva Kiir and Machar under UN pressure last August, will see the two sides form a transitional government of national unity, for which Machar's inauguration marked the first step.

"We need to bring our people together so that they can reconcile and heal the wounds. Yes there will be challenges but as long as there is political will we shall overcome the challenges," Machar said at the airport, describing security and economy as "the first challenge".

He called for international donors to help his war-torn country. "Our partners need to help us in finding resources for implementation of the agreement."

Machar returned to Juba on a UN plane from his camps in Gambela, Ethiopia.

His return had been repeatedly delayed, which analysts said reflects the mistrust between him and the Kiir-led government.

Fighting erupted in December 2013 after President Kiir accused his sacked deputy Machar of a coup attempt.

Machar denied the charge but then formed the rebel force. He fled South Sudan at the start of the war, which has split the country along ethnic lines.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in the violence, with about 2.8 million -- nearly a quarter of the country's population -- in urgent need of food assistance.

"On internally displaced persons, we need to reach out to such people. We need to ensure that humanitarian access is done so that humanitarian relief reaches the needy.

"All these things I have said without national reconciliation and healing is nothing," said Machar.

Senior commanders and 1,370 troops of the rebel force had arrived in Juba to ensure security for Machar's return, as part of the terms of the peace deal.

Information Minister, Michael Makuei, said Machar's arrival was a landmark in the implementation of the peace agreement.

However analysts say his return will not immediately end security fears in the country as several previous ceasefires between the two sides have failed to hold. Endit