South Sudan rebel leader flees country

A spokesperson for South Sudan’s opposition and rebel group says that their leader Riek Machar has fled the country.
Mabior Garang of the SPLM-IO said on Thursday that Machar had gone to a safe country within the region.
After clashes with President Salva Kiir’s army in the capital of Juba on July 8th, Machar and rebel forces left the city, putting the country’s peace deal in limbo. Hundreds of civilians died in the July fighting.
Last week, the UN voted to send 4 000 regional peacekeepers to Juba. The government has not yet accepted the force, and Machar said he will not return to the capital until it is deployed.
In July, Machar was removed as South Sudan’s first vice president after a disputed change of leadership in his party.