The government is hopeful that Dr Riek Machar will return to Juba under the peace agreement to continue with the implementation, the Minister of information has said.

Mr Makuei says the whereabouts of the first vice president have not been clear since the recent fighting in Juba.

But the minister told Eye Radio that President Salva Kiir has been in communication with Dr Riek.

“The fact that Riek Machar has gone does not mean that the agreement is gone. We are hopeful that Riek Machar will come back,” Mr Makuei told Eye Radio.

The ‘disappearance’ of Dr Riek has raised concerns about the fate of the august 2015 peace deal between the government and the SPLM in Opposition.

“Riek Machar can go and the agreement continues. In accordance with the provisions of the agreement, the SPLM/A-IO is supposed to appoint someone to act on behalf of Riek Machar until that time when he comes back and in case the position falls vacant, then the IO would be required to nominate a candidate to feel the position of the first vice president.”

For its part, the SPLM in opposition says it is still fully committed to the implementation of the peace agreement.

“The peace agreement is still holding,” said William Ezekiel, spokesperson.

“We still respect the peace agreement on our side as IO and we are really keen to see to it that the implementation goes smoothly.”