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South Sudan Government, Rebels Face Ultimatum

by Jason Patinkin April 21, 2016

World powers say South Sudan's government and rebels must cooperate and bring rebel leader Riek Machar to the capital by Saturday, or be referred to the U.N. Security Council.

In an ultimatum given to both sides Thursday, the United States, China, eight other countries and the European and African Unions said the government must allow Machar to come to Juba with just under 200 troops, armed only with AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and PKM machine guns.

Rebel negotiator Taban Deng Gai told reporters the rebels accept the terms of the ultimatum, but government spokesman Michael Makuei rejected it, saying the rebels had come up with new demands.

Machar was scheduled to arrive in Juba this week to be sworn in as vice president by President Salva Kiir, per terms of a peace deal signed in August to end two and a half years of civil war.

But Machar did not show up because the government objected to the weapons his troops were carrying.

Observers say the delays to Machar's return puts the peace deal at risk.

The U.N. says more than 2.3 million South Sudanese have been displaced from their homes since fighting erupted in December 2013.