Machar's death 'April Fools' Day' joke: South Sudan rebels

JUBA 

South Sudanese rebels affiliated with sacked vice president Riek Machar on Tuesday denied rumors about his death, describing the reports as "April Fools' Day".

"This is the work of irresponsible journalism," read a statement by the pro-Machar splinter group from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), the umbrella rebel group which fought for South Sudan's independence from Sudan.

"We affirm to the people of South Sudan…and the whole world that Dr. Machar is alive and well and that he is in good health," the statement added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Paris-based Sudan Tribune news website reported that Machar had been found dead in one of the towns seized by his own rebel supporters in South Sudan. The report was not attributed to any sources.

The April Fools' Day is an informal holiday celebrated every year on the April 1. Hoax stories are common in the media on that day.

The SPLM/A fought against Khartoum with in a bitter civil war that ended with a 2005 peace treaty that opened the door to South Sudan's independence in 2011.

Differences between Machar and President Salva Kiir mounted into an all-out conflict in December, with each of the former allies claiming to be the true representative of the SPLM which fought for the country's independence.

South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when Kiir accused Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt.

The nascent country remains in the grip of on-again, off-again violence, despite an IGAD-brokered cessation of hostilities agreement signed between the warring rivals in January following weeks of talks in Addis Ababa. A second round of talks resumed last week in the Ethiopian capital.

The U.N. estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the violence.

By Atem Simon

englishnews@aa.com.tr