Republished April 09, 2019 - 2:37 PM
Original Publication Date April 09, 2019 - 12:11 PM
JUBA, South Sudan - South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar is still waiting for permission to travel to a peace retreat at the Vatican on Wednesday, according to a Tuesday letter seen by The Associated Press.
The letter written by Machar to the East African regional bloc, which must give him permission to leave house arrest in neighbouring Sudan, said his status had "not yet been determined" and he requested approval to go.
The retreat, also to be attended by South Sudan's president, is meant to foster peace after a five-year civil war. It comes a month after President Salva Kiir met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Brazille Musumba, spokesman for the regional bloc, would not comment directly on Machar's letter. "I can only state that we support every effort to bring lasting peace to South Sudan," Musumba told AP.
Machar has been waiting to return to South Sudan next month to become a vice-president under a power-sharing agreement.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019