Ethiopia, Kenya Pushing for Release of Riek MacharAugust 29, 2017 - As part of IGAD’s effort to resolve South Sudan’s crisis, Ethiopia and Kenya have informed South Sudan’s opposition group that the region intends to bring an end to Riek Machar’s forced confinement in South Africa, a senior rebel official said. The decision was reportedly reached by IGAD countries in order to keep him away in the hope of preventing fighting in the world’s youngest nation. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, a senior opposition official loyal to Riek Machar, stated that the leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya have confirmed to them that they are pushing for the release of Machar in order to be part of the peace process in South Sudan. Actually the detention of Riek Machar came after a request from the government and the idea was supported by some IGAD countries,” he said. Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD), is an 8-member economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.

Source: Ethiopian News August 29, 2017 17:26 UTC