The leader of the SPLM-in-Opposition has not been able to travel to the Sudanese capital as announced over the weekend. Sources close to the South Sudanese rebel leader had repeatedly announced plans for his visit, but he has yet to make the trip.

Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that it has received a notification from the East African regional organization IGAD about postponement of the expected visit by rebel leader Riek Machar to Khartoum owing to some logistical matters.

IGAD, which was to facilitate the visit, announced late on Tuesday that Machar’s group had failed to show up to the roundtable peace talks in Addis Ababa.

The Foreign Ministry in Khartoum explained via state media on Tuesday that Riek Machar was scheduled to visit Khartoum as a part of the opposition leader’s tour of member states of the East African Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.

It provided little further explanation on the reason for the delay of the visit.

An SPLM-IO official earlier had told Radio Tamazuj that Machar would visit the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Monday, where he was scheduled to meet the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al Bashir and other top government officials.

The Foreign Ministry statement noted that Sudan is supporting the IGAD mediation, in the hope of reaching a breakthrough at the peace talks.

Machar refuses to join the peace talks in the currently constituted format, demanding instead the exclusion of SPLM-Leaders faction before proceeding.

Sudan’s foreign ministry meanwhile has commended the role of IGAD in resolving the conflict in South Sudan, reiterating Sudan’s commitment to support peace efforts in the country.

Machar is currently staying in the Ethiopian capital, but he has not been reported as being directly present at the venue of the peace talks.  

File photo: Sudan's President Omar al Bashir