– ‘Armed to the teeth’ –
“It will require extreme diligence by security forces of the government, the opposition and the UN,” warned veteran journalist Jacob Akol in an editorial for the Gurtong peace project.
“Both sides are armed to the teeth… should fighting break out this time in Juba, we should expect prolonged battles in the city.”
Machar, who last year said it would not be possible to have peace while Kiir remained in power, is due to fly Monday from his rebel base at Pagak in the far east of the country, close to the Ethiopian border, rebel spokesman Colonel Nyarji Roman said.
He is expected to be swiftly sworn in as vice-president at the presidential palace alongside Kiir, but a welcome rally by his supporters may be cancelled amid government security fears.
The swearing in is expected to be attended by African Union representative Alpha Oumar Konare, a former president of Mali, as well as Festus Mogae, a former Botswanan president who heads the international ceasefire monitoring team.
Mogae, who is typically upbeat about developments in the fractured nation, has already warned that the “formation of a new government will not in itself be a panacea.”
About The Author
