Former South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar might have been shot and injured during the July skirmishes that claimed hundreds of lives, the Star has learnt. Sources privy to Machar’s extraction by a United Nations helicopter from Dungu in the Democratic Republic of Congo said he could not walk and was carried on a stretcher onto the Monusco helicopter together with his wife Angelina Teny and 10 armed people. Almost 100 soldiers accompanying Machar were left behind, but were later evacuated.
“He was not well and is suspected to have been shot although his people claim he was injured after walking a long distance. Machar is a soldier who has fought in the bush for many years. How can it be that he had to be carried on a stretcher for walking?” one of the people involved in the rescue asked. After extraction from Dungu, Machar was flown to Kisangani where he was again removed from the helicopter on a stretcher.