South Sudan ex-VP Machar 'discharged from Khartoum hospital'

Riek Machar has been discharged from hospital in Khartoum after being treated for a swollen leg, his aides said on Friday.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

24 August, 2016

Riek Machar fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo following deadly clashes last month [Getty]

South Sudan's former rebel leader Riek Machar has been discharged from hospital in Khartoum after being treated for a swollen leg, his aides told AFP on Friday.

Machar was replaced by Taban Deng Gai as South Sudan's first vice president after hundreds of people died in Juba last month in clashes between Machar's forces and government troops.

On Tuesday, the Sudanese government announced that Machar had arrived in Khartoum for "medical treatment", but did not elaborate.

"He has been discharged," Manasseh Zindo, a senior aide from Machar's party SPLM/A [IO], told AFP.

Another party aide, Sabiet Majok, said Machar had been discharged on Friday morning.

"His condition has improved. His leg has improved. Basically, what we know is that his leg had swollen due to long-distance walking," Zindo said.

Following last month's deadly fighting in Juba, Machar escaped to the Democratic Republic of Congo before travelling to Khartoum.

On Tuesday, Sudan said that when Machar arrived in the capital that he needed "immediate medical treatment."

"He's in good health now, but he will stay in Khartoum for some more days," Majok said.

He said Machar plans to meet President Omar al-Bashir, and also to hold a press conference.

Machar's absence after fleeing renewed fighting in South Sudan's capital last month struck another blow to the country's peace deal to end a civil war.

Reports emerged on Tuesday of at least 275 people were killed in fighting between government and rebel forces in South Sudan.

Agencies contributed to this report