The SPLM-IO has attributed the second postponement of Dr Riek Machar’s return to Juba, to a difficulty getting travel permit for General Simon Gatwech Dual, the Chief of General Staff of opposition forces.

Gen Simon Gatwech Dual is one of the senior military leaders of the opposition that were sanctioned by the UN in 2015.

Officials say a landing permit to Ethiopia was secured today April 19.

However, there has been a problem getting a permit to Juba. It’s unclear why the government is hesitant to issue the general the permit.

“We are working hard to secure this in Juba. General Taban Deng Gai is trying his level best to secure this permit now from the National Security and Foreign Affairs of South Sudan,” Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

“If the permit is secured, the airplane can leave from Khartoum, Sudan, to Gambella, which takes 1 hours and 30 minutes.”

He added that ‘the First Vice President will be arriving tomorrow April 20, 2016, if all goes well’.

Dr Machar also failed to come to Juba yesterday over what his officials say was a similar delay in clearing Gen Gatwech to enter Ethiopia, where he would fly to Juba.

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