President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit (front L) attends a meeting with Riek Machar (front R), AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ismail Chergui (rear L), Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta (rear C) and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn (rear R) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 01, 2015./ Getty Images
Former South Sudan vice president Riek Machar arrived in Juba on Saturday ahead of crucial talks with President Salva Kiir.
Machar has been based in Khartoum for months now, as he engages in talks with President Kiir on a peace deal that would effectively end the war in their country.
South Sudan has been beset by a civil war since December 2013, sparked by a feud between President Kiir and Machar, who was the vice president at the time.
Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup against his rule, allegations the latter denied but then went on to mobilise a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions of others to flee their homes, prompting the United Nations to rank the country as Africa's biggest refugee crisis.
While a peace deal was struck in September to end the war and institute a unity government, Machar is yet to return to take up his designated vice president position in the proposed transitional government.
Both President Kiir and Machar have expressed support for the deal and restoration of peace in the country.
The two leaders are expected to meet at the presidential palace in the capital.
Source: The East African