Ethiopia accepts S. Sudan’s request to close rebel offices

ESAT News (December 5, 2016)

Riek Machar

The Ethiopian government has accepted a request by South Sudan government to shut down all offices belonging to its armed opposition faction, the Sudan People’s liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), loyal to ex-first vice president-turned rebel leader, Riek Machar in Addis Ababa, according to a report filed by the Sudan Tribune.

“Our relations with the countries in the region are increasingly improving to the better. The visit of the first vice president, General Taban Deng Gai, has made a significant improvement in the relations with our neighbouring countries. Now Ethiopia has accepted in principle to close down all the offices run by individuals are still loyal to Riek Machar,” Sudan Tribune quoted a presidential source knowledgeable of events as saying on Saturday.

“They have also agreed to not allow these elements to not carry out their activities in Addis Ababa,” added the source.

The official who spoke to Sudan Tribune said the move will be part of bilateral agreement which the two countries have agreed to implement with immediate effect as part of the arrangement to halt support to rebels operating in each other’s territory.

It is not clear what will happen to the armed opposition officials if the deal is implemented, the paper said.

Many observers have expressed fear that members of armed opposition will be forced to either stop talking politics, go to refugee camps outside Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, return to country in their rebel held areas or join Machar’s successor faction the report said.

Ethiopian authorities had earlier dismissed claims that it denied the South Sudanese armed opposition leader, who arrived in Addis Ababa from South Africa, from landing in its territory.

Ethiopian immigration officials last week refused permit to Machar to enter the country and sent him back to South Africa, his initial departure. Reports also say immigration officials told Machar that they would send him to South Sudan if he refused to return to South Africa.