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| South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar returns to Juba | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South Sudan rebel chief Riek Machar has returned to Juba for the first time since a civil war erupted more than two years ago and after a row last week over the weapons he could bring back with him. | South Sudan rebel chief Riek Machar has returned to Juba for the first time since a civil war erupted more than two years ago and after a row last week over the weapons he could bring back with him. |
| Machar is due to be sworn in as first vice-president alongside his longtime arch-rival, president Salva Kiir, joining a unity government being formed to end the conflict. | Machar is due to be sworn in as first vice-president alongside his longtime arch-rival, president Salva Kiir, joining a unity government being formed to end the conflict. |
| Machar, who was due back in the city on 18 April under a peace deal, was expected to head immediately from the airport to the presidential palace to be sworn in. | Machar, who was due back in the city on 18 April under a peace deal, was expected to head immediately from the airport to the presidential palace to be sworn in. |
| His delayed arrival infuriated the international community after the months of negotiations spent on getting the rivals to return to the same city and share power in the world’s newest country. | His delayed arrival infuriated the international community after the months of negotiations spent on getting the rivals to return to the same city and share power in the world’s newest country. |
| Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be an even bigger challenge. | Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be an even bigger challenge. |
| The top rebel military commander, Simon Gatwech Dual, returned on Monday in a key step forward in the floundering peace process. | The top rebel military commander, Simon Gatwech Dual, returned on Monday in a key step forward in the floundering peace process. |
| “We are one South Sudan,” Dual shouted, waving a walking stick in the air as he marched off the plane. He was welcomed by top government army commanders, surrounded by heavily armed troops from the government and rebels. | “We are one South Sudan,” Dual shouted, waving a walking stick in the air as he marched off the plane. He was welcomed by top government army commanders, surrounded by heavily armed troops from the government and rebels. |
| Both sides remain deeply suspicious and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who pay no heed to Kiir or Machar. | Both sides remain deeply suspicious and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who pay no heed to Kiir or Machar. |
| Machar’s return was stalled by arguments that at one point, in a country awash with weapons, came down to a dispute about just over two dozen rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns that the force guarding Machar are allowed to have. | Machar’s return was stalled by arguments that at one point, in a country awash with weapons, came down to a dispute about just over two dozen rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns that the force guarding Machar are allowed to have. |
| Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes in the conflict. The economy is in ruins, more than 5 million people need aid and 2 million have fled their homes. | Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes in the conflict. The economy is in ruins, more than 5 million people need aid and 2 million have fled their homes. |
| Related: Tensions run high as rebels return to South Sudan's capital | Related: Tensions run high as rebels return to South Sudan's capital |
| More than 180,000 people are crammed into UN peacekeeping camps across the country, too terrified to venture outside the razor wire fences for fear of being killed. Tensions are high, and the days ahead will be critical. | More than 180,000 people are crammed into UN peacekeeping camps across the country, too terrified to venture outside the razor wire fences for fear of being killed. Tensions are high, and the days ahead will be critical. |
| “We need the guns to stay silent and give people time – both as official warring parties and as individuals – with one another in coming days,” said Casie Copeland from the International Crisis Group thinktank. | “We need the guns to stay silent and give people time – both as official warring parties and as individuals – with one another in coming days,” said Casie Copeland from the International Crisis Group thinktank. |
| Parts of the country, especially the devastated oil-producing northern Unity region, have been pushed to the brink of famine. | Parts of the country, especially the devastated oil-producing northern Unity region, have been pushed to the brink of famine. |
| There are expectations Machar’s arrival means the problems will be solved swiftly, but there will be no quick fix. Diplomats note gloomily that while his return is the “best chance yet”, the deal imposed under intense international pressure only returns the country to the status quo that existed before his July 2013 sacking as vice-president, which precipitated the war. | There are expectations Machar’s arrival means the problems will be solved swiftly, but there will be no quick fix. Diplomats note gloomily that while his return is the “best chance yet”, the deal imposed under intense international pressure only returns the country to the status quo that existed before his July 2013 sacking as vice-president, which precipitated the war. |
| The agreement has been repeatedly broken with months of fighting since it was signed, leaving its key power-sharing formula in ruins after Kiir nearly tripled the number of regional states. | The agreement has been repeatedly broken with months of fighting since it was signed, leaving its key power-sharing formula in ruins after Kiir nearly tripled the number of regional states. |
| Related: 'I'm a hero. I created a country', says the rebel driving South Sudan's brutal war | Related: 'I'm a hero. I created a country', says the rebel driving South Sudan's brutal war |
| South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. The conflict has torn open ethnic divisions and been characterised by human rights violations. | South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. The conflict has torn open ethnic divisions and been characterised by human rights violations. |
| It has included the abduction and rape of thousands of women and girls, massacres of civilians, recruitment of child soldiers, murder, mutilation and even cannibalism. | It has included the abduction and rape of thousands of women and girls, massacres of civilians, recruitment of child soldiers, murder, mutilation and even cannibalism. |
| South Sudan had some of the world’s worst indicators for development, health and education even before the war. | South Sudan had some of the world’s worst indicators for development, health and education even before the war. |
| Machar has more than 1,500 armed troops in the capital, while government forces have officially just over double that. All other soldiers have to remain at least 15 miles outside the capital. The threat of violence at a local level remains, with multiple militia forces unleashed and out of control. | Machar has more than 1,500 armed troops in the capital, while government forces have officially just over double that. All other soldiers have to remain at least 15 miles outside the capital. The threat of violence at a local level remains, with multiple militia forces unleashed and out of control. |
| Machar and Kiir are decades-old rivals and, even if they can work together, both must rein in powerful hardline field commanders. | Machar and Kiir are decades-old rivals and, even if they can work together, both must rein in powerful hardline field commanders. |