The leader of the SPLM-in-Opposition Riek Machar has rejected efforts by the widow of the late SPLM founder John Garang to get him to talk to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the East African reported on Saturday.

The Nairobi-based newspaper belonging to the Nation Media Group reported that the South Sudanese rebel leader ‘snubbed’ attempts by the Ugandan leader to talk with him over the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

“President Museveni’s invitation follows consistent pressure from John Garang’s widow Rebecca Nyandeng, who sources say has met and held talks with the President nine times in the past five months,” the paper reported.

SPLM-in-Opposition has demanded that Uganda withdraw its troops from South Sudan, but Uganda has said this will have to wait until deployment of a regional mission of IGAD troops.

The two leaders are also said to have ‘personal’ differences.

Museveni deployed troops to South Sudan soon after the outbreak of conflict in the country in December 2013. He vowed that he would help President Salva Kiir ‘defeat’ the opposition leader Riek Machar.

File photo: President Yoweri Museveni (left) and President Salva Kiir

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