Addis Ababa – Rebel leader and former South Sudan vice President Dr. Riek Machar was denied entry by the Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs of Ethiopia to the country because of lack of proper documentation. This move is seen as part of a regional policy to exclude him from the political process in South Sudan after Taban Deng’s appointment as First Vice President. After entering into Addis Ababa, Machar, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM IO) in Opposition flew to Khartoum, Sudan. The Department said Machar was forced to return to South Africa for not fulfilling immigration requirements and based on international immigration practice. Kuong called the IGAD countries to address the root cause of South Sudan’s civil war instead of trying to exclude Riek Machar.

Source: Ethiopian News November 23, 2016 19:30 UTC