Roundup: Resumption of Machar's ex-position depends on decision of Taban Deng: official

Ousted South Sudan's first Vice President Riek Machar will only return to his position on the discretion of his replacement Taban Deng Gai, an official said on Monday.

President Salva Kiir's spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny whose government had rejected foreign troops in the country told Xinhua in an interview in Juba, that there is no law compelling inaugurated first Vice President Deng to vacate for Machar.

"They (regional countries) are urging him (Machar) to return to Juba. The matter lies with Deng, there is no law compelling him to do so. The IGAD has allowed the current setting and it is a matter of Deng to decide if to step down and go back as minister," Ateny said.

This came after Juba last week agreed to allow in foreign troops as part of the African Standby force agreed upon by the African Union (AU), UN and intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

It further encourages Machar to rejoin the peace process and for President Kiir and people to embrace a return to the spirit of long lasting peace in their country.

During the recent IGAD summit in Ethiopia, South Sudan agreed to the deployment of protection forces in Juba.

Newly-appointed VP, Deng who led South Sudan government delegation to the summit known as IGAD-Plus, emerged to say that he was ready to step down from his position and give it to Riek Machar once he returns to Juba.

IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim said the Heads of State of member states have directed the chiefs of staff to go to Juba and discuss the modalities of deployment of the protection force with the government of South Sudan.

"The government of South Sudan has accepted with no condition the deployment of protection force," he said.

Deng replaced Machar in the wake of renewed violent fighting in the capital Juba on July 8-11, which led to the latter and rebel troops to flee Juba and left about 300 people killed and 60,000 others seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

The supporters of Deng cited failure to communicate with their elusive leader to replace him but it remains to be seen if the seeming ambitious Deng will relinquish the seat.

Since Machar fled the capital, the SPLM/A-IO has split into two factions, one that comprises of senior party officials that fronted Deng as Machar's alternative and the armed wing that insist on Machar being the legitimate leader.

However, Machar spokesman James Gatdet Dak said his boss remains the legitimate leader of the armed opposition recognized by the peace agreement.

"Riek Machar remains the legitimate first vice president of South Sudan. Whoever sneaked in the office illegally in violation of the August 2015 peace agreement should step down. All the SPLA-IO ministers illegally replaced will be reinstated under their legitimate leader," Gatdet said.

South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between the two leaders erupted into full blown conflict in December 2013.

The crisis has produced one of the world's worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians. Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas in the Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal regions of South Sudan.

This past month, deadly clashes in Wau resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people, while up to 35,000 fled their homes. Endit