The leader of the SPLM in Opposition, Dr Riek Machar, has called for the lifting of state of emergency imposed after the outbreak of the conflict in 2013.

President Salva Kiir imposed the measure in January in what was Unity and Jonglei States. This means that the government could suspend and, or, change some functions of the executive, the legislative and, or, the judiciary during this period of time. The region was declared a war zone.

Dr Riek told a press conference in Kampala on Tuesday after meeting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that the state of emergency has not been lifted until now, and that it has resulted into restrictions.

“An example yesterday our team who came from Juba to join us because we came from Addis we had a component of the delegation coming from Juba, they were first stopped to board the Ugandan Airline in the morning, and then when the plane left, somebody told them: “now you are free to go to Uganda”. Using what means, and the plane had left. This is not the first time,” said Dr. Machar.

“Restriction of movement is still on and this is because the state of emergency is not lifted yet. The state of emergency should be lifted.”

Last week, the SPLM-IO information committee chairperson, Mabior Garang, accused individuals in the security in Juba of illegally interfering with movement of their advance team members at the airport.

But he said it was an isolated incident by a few who don’t like peace.

Presidential press secretary Ateny Wek Ateny also told the media that the government was trying to provide better security for the team members.