The government has blamed the second postponement of Dr Riek Machar’s return to Juba on ‘unrealistic demands and decision’.

In a statement issued this evening, Information Minister Michael Makuei said the government learned today that “he wanted to come with an arsenal of arms, inter alia, anti-tanks, laser-guided missiles and heavy machine guns”.

Meanwhile, the SPLM-IO currently has a 1,370-strong force in Juba as part of a security arrangement agreed and signed by the peace partners.

However, according to the deal, the opposition is supposed to have 1,410 soldiers in the capital.

“Thus, it is less by 40 and this is the number expected to arrive in Juba. The JMEC shall approve their armaments accordingly,” Mr Makuei added.

He said the government is not in a position to meet Dr Machar’s demand:

“The government of the Republic of South Sudan will not accept any additional arms or surplus forces to be brought to Juba.”

He called upon JMEC, IGAD, AU, Troika, EU and many other stakeholders to pressure Dr Machar to ‘reconsider’ his position.

However, SPLM-IO officials said the delay was as a result of failure to ‘secure’ a travel permit for General Simon Gatwech Dual, the Chief of General Staff of opposition forces.

Dr Riek also failed to come to Juba on Monday over what his officials said was a similar delay in clearing Gen Gatwech to enter Ethiopia, where he would fly to Juba.

They say General Gatwech has to arrive in Juba before Dr Riek.

The opposition is yet to comment on the matter.