Machar's presence in Sudan will not affect ties
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E-mail Xinhua, September 17, 2016
South Sudan says its bilateral relations with Sudan will not be affected by the presence of its sacked First Vice President Riek Machar in Sudanese capital Khartoum.
Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mawien Makol, told Xinhua Friday in an interview that Machar's presence in Khartoum for medical treatment "is not a concern".
"It is not a concern because Sudan declared him (Machar) to be there on humanitarian reasons. It will not affect our relations," Makol said.
Machar fled South Sudan with some of his aides following fighting between his forces and government troops led by President Salva Kiir in Juba in early July.
He first arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the UN help, and later went to Khartoum to seek treatment on his swollen leg.
His presence in Khartoum initially raised a few eyebrows in Juba just after the two former civil war foes had started to thaw their relations since South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011.
In August, Taban Deng Gai, who replaced Machar as first vice president, led a high-level delegation to Khartoum and signed bilateral deals on oil, mining and security along the two nations' common border. Relations between the two had remained tense due to disputes over several issues.
Makol also reiterated his government's commitment to peace implementation in the wake of a visit by a UN Security Council delegation to Juba.
He said the government will receive the African protection troops proposed by regional countries after the July fighting.
The 4,000-strong protection force, approved by the UN Security Council, is expected to beef up the 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in protecting civilians. However it is still unknown when it will be deployed.
Makol however said South Sudan will have a say on the troop contributing countries, claiming neighboring countries had interests in South Sudan.
"We have accepted the protection troops but we shall have a say on which troops are coming here," said the spokesman.
South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013 after President Kiir accused his then sacked deputy Machar of plotting a coup. Machar denied the accusation but mobilized a rebel force. Tens of thousands have died and more than two million displaced in the violence.
A fragile peace deal, brokered by regional countries and signed between the warring parties in August 2015, led to the formation of a unity government in April, with Machar becoming the first vice president again. However, renewed fighting flared up and Machar was sacked and pitted against Kiir again.
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