The South Sudan embattled First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar has survived an assassination attempt and managed to sneak out of the country.
The new striking development was revealed by Machar’s closed confidant, Mabior Garang de Mabior in a statement released on Wednesday night.
“The leadership of SPLM/A In Opposition would like to announce the successful evacuation of the legitimate FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny-dhuorgon after the botched attempt to assassinate him,” part of the statement reads.
Mabior stated that the assassination plot was orchestrated by military generals from the government that he fell short of naming.
“He (Machar) has been with the SPLM/A IO forces being hunted by the dark forces loyal to the individual generals in the SPLA In Government.”
The armed opposition leadership has not blamed President Salva Kiir but the powerful SPLA Chief of Staff Gen. Mawan Malong.
Mabior who is also the son of SPLA founding father, Dr. John Garang stressed that the alleged failed assassination attempt was meant to squander the implementation of South Sudan peace agreement.
The government of President Kiir and Machar’s group signed a peace accord in August last year that brought in place the Transitional Government of National Unity expected to last for three years.
The ToGNU was charged with the responsibility of organizing a general election before its expiry.
However, just two months after its inception war resumed between the two forces again and the future of ToGNU and its aspirations are currently in balance.
Dr. Machar fled the capital Juba early last month and has cut communication with everyone including the regional body IGAD that mediated the peace agreement.
Fighting is continuing between the two forces and closed to 100,000 people have fled to neighboring countries since July.
Machar’s camp also suffered internal disagreement and Gen. Taban Deng bGai has controversially been put in his position as the First Vice President.
Machar is expected to address a press briefing today from the unnamed foreign country he has fled to.
We highly suspect he is either in Uganda, Kenya or Ethiopia.