KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) – South Sudan’s rebel leader has fled the country, a spokesman for his party said Thursday.
Former First Vice President Riek Machar has gone to a safe country in the neighboring East African region, Mabior Garang, a spokesperson for the SPLM-IO party, said in a posting on Facebook.
Machar is expected to hold a press conference later Friday, Garang said.
After clashes with President Salva Kiir’s army in the capital of Juba on July 8th, Machar and rebel forces left the city, putting the country’s peace deal in limbo. Hundreds of civilians died in the July fighting.
Government and rebel forces have recently clashed in the southern region of Yei, according to rebel leaders and local government officials.