President Salva Kiir says he has no immediate plans to call for a replacement of the First Vice President.

While addressing leaders of the Nuer community at State House yesterday, President Kiir said he will not replace Dr Riek despite his absence since the clashes of July 9th.

Senior leaders within the SPLM-IO and the SPLM-In Government say the whereabouts of Dr Riek Machar has not been clear since the recent fighting in Juba.

This week, the Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, said the SPLM/A-IO will need to appoint someone to act on behalf of Dr Riek until that time when he comes back.

President Salva Kiir told Nuer elders on Wednesday that he will not replace the FVP but will continue to urge him to return to Juba to assume his role for the full implementation of the peace agreement.

Chapter six of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan says “in the event that the post of the First Vice President falls vacant during the Transitional Period, for any reason, the replacement shall be nominated by the top leadership body of the South Sudan Armed Opposition, in this case, the SPLM-IO, as at the signing of the Agreement”.

“In the event of temporary absence of the First Vice President, the First Vice President may delegate a senior Minister of the SPLM-IO to carry out functions and duties as stipulated in the agreement,” it further reads.