GAMBELLA, Ethiopia: South Sudan’s rebel chief Riek Machar appeared at an airport in Ethiopia ready to return home to Juba on Saturday, awaiting only government clearance to fly after monitors completed weapons verification.

Without government permission to land in Juba, he will miss an international deadline to return to the capital to take up the post of vice president as part of a peace deal to end over two years of intense civil war.

Machar, wearing an open-necked orange shirt instead of military uniform, was ready to fly from the airport in the Ethiopian town of Gambella close to the border with South Sudan, but said he was unsure of what welcome he faced in Juba.

“I don’t know,” he said, adding, “I don’t see why I should seek landing permission.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged Machar to return to Juba “without delay,” while the US, Britain and Norway — key international backers of peace efforts — demanded he return by Saturday.

Machar was due to return to the capital Juba on April 18 to forge a unity government with his arch-rival President Salva Kiir.

His failure to arrive has thrown an August 2015 peace agreement into jeopardy, with US, Britain and Norway warning in a statement late Friday of the risk of “further conflict and suffering.”

International monitors completed verification of the number of weapons carried by the rebels accompanying him, diplomats said Saturday.

There was no immediate response from the government, who previously said they would clear Machar’s plane to fly once the weapons-checking was completed.

Earlier on Saturday, Minister of Information Michael Makuei said he expected Machar’s arrival only on Monday.

There was growing frustration among the rebel troops in Gambella, who have now been there for several days waiting to leave.

Under intense international pressure, the two sides reached agreement on Friday on the number of troops protecting Machar and the exact number of weapons they can carry.

Machar can bring with him 195 men, carrying AK-47 assault rifles as well as 20 machine guns and 20 rocket-propelled grenades. “The forces are ready,” rebel spokesman James Gadet said.