UPDATES WITH U.S. POSITION AGAINST RIEK MACHAR’S RETURN TO S.SUDAN
By Godfrey Olukya and Parach Mach
ARU, Democratic Republic of the Congo (AA) – Armed fighters loyal to former South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar are among over 20,000 refugees in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a UN mission said Thursday.
UN spokesman Felix Prosper Basse said some of the armed men and refugees were in very poor health and had been evacuated to Goma town in the east of the country for treatment.
Basse said: “There has been a wave of people moving from South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some armed members of Riek Machar’s fighters are among the refugees who have fled into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
One of the refugees, Tom Lagu, told Anadolu Agency: “We walked over 150 kilometers [93 miles] … to escape fighting in our country.”
He said some of his companions died along the way as they fled unrest in South Sudan.
A Congolese national living near where the South Sudanese are camping told Anadolu Agency that while they sympathize with the refugees, they have fears the newcomers may affect their welfare as resources are scarce.
South Sudan fell into chaos in July this year when government troops started fighting Machar’s fighters in Juba. Fighting soon spread into other parts of the country. Thousands of South Sudanese refugees have fled to neighboring countries.
– U.S. opposes Machar’s return
Separately, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan says Washington does not support Machar’s return to assume his position in the transitional government of national unity.
Months after returning to South Sudan to help implement a peace deal, Machar fled Juba in July amid renewed fighting.
Ambassador Donald Booth told the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee that the sour working relationship between President Salva Kiir and Machar will make it difficult to fully implement the deal.
Booth said the conflict in July showed the lack of trust and cooperation between the two leaders and it would be inappropriate for Machar to re-assume the vice presidency, now being held by Taban Deng.
“We do not believe it would be wise for Machar to return to his previous position in Juba. That said, it cannot serve as a justification for President Kiir to monopolize power,” he argued.
“What is most urgently needed is creation of a secure space in Juba for inclusive political process to be stored.”
Booth also warned South Sudanese leaders outside South Sudan against supporting more violence in the country.
“I believe what is needed is for South Sudan’s political and military leaders in and out of government to meet together to figure out how to jointly shoulder responsibility for preventing further bloodshed,” he said. “However, this can only succeed if those currently in power are willing to accommodate the legitimate interest of others.”
