SPLM-In Opposition leader Riek Machar welcomed the move by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to host South Sudanese refugees in his country.

Earlier this week Khartoum signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN's refugee agency to grant documents to thousands of South Sudanese refugees to live and work freely in Sudan.

In a press statement issued by SPLM-IO deputy spokesperson Manawa Peter Garkouth, Machar noted the deep historical ties between South Sudan and Sudan.

Machar further accused South Sudan's foreign embassies, which are controlled by Salva Kiir's SPLM-Juba faction, of refusing paperwork to South Sudanese citizens of Nuer descent.

Related:

Khartoum to grant legal residence to half a million South Sudanese refugees