The rescue of South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar from Congo was personally authorised by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, according to a European expert involved in the exfiltration. The opposition leader believed he was being followed by South Sudanese army units. Machar was concerned that the mercenaries and South Sudanese soldiers following him might try to shoot down the chopper as he was in a particularly lawless part of Congo. Read: South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar seeks safety in DRCThe expert said the story in the Standard newspaper on Thursday was incorrect to say that a Sudanese airplane picked up Machar. His advisers want him to transfer to Addis Ababa where IGAD still recognises him as the legitimate vice-president of South Sudan.

Source: The Star August 19, 2016 14:28 UTC