Dr Riek Machar, leader of the SPLM-IO

The Sudanese Minister of Information says South Sudan’s former First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, is in Khartoum for urgent medical attention.

In a statement, Ahem Bilal Osman says they received Dr Machar because he was in a health condition that requires urgent medical intervention.

It does not specify when Dr Riek arrived in Khartoum.

Last week, the UN spokesperson confirmed that the world body had evacuated Dr. Riek Machar from the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Officials from the SPLM in Opposition who have moved out of South Sudan said Dr Riek Machar was dehydrated after walking in the bush for many days.

Yesterday, the Sudanese Information Minister, Ahem Bilal Osman said Dr. Machar’s health condition was stable.

He said Dr Riek would be in Khartoum under comprehensive health care and it would be upon him to decide whether to leave the Sudan after completing his treatment.

According to the statement, Sudanese authorities have notified the South Sudanese government.

But the Minister of Information in Juba, Michael Makuei Lueth, is yet to comment. He said he was going for a cabinet meeting.

Dr Machar left Juba last month, after fighting broke out at the Presidential Palace J1, where the presidency and other senior officials were meeting to discuss security in Juba.