The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has warned that the presence in that country of hundreds of soldiers loyal to Dr Riek Machar could be a threat to regional peace.

The UN extracted Dr Riek at the border last month, and 750 of his soldiers were also airlifted to the DRC. Dr Riek was later evacuated to Khartoum for treatment.

The mission says it rescued 268 others in Garamba National Park in northeastern Congo over the weekend.

“MONUSCO and the United Nations headquarters continue their discussions with the DRC government (and) regional organizations in order to find a favorable resolution to this situation, which could become a threat to peace in Congo and the region,” the mission said in a statement.

MUNUSCO said it was working with the United Nations headquarters to resolve the situation it says could become a threat to peace in Congo and the region.

The government in Juba had criticized the extraction of Dr Riek Machar, saying the Congolese authorities crossed the border into South Sudan without a prior notification.