Fierce fighting between his forces and government troops forced Riek Machar out of the South Sudanese capital Juba last month.
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The United Nations learned Wednesday that Machar was in Congo and arranged on humanitarian grounds for the U.N. peacekeeping force there to airlift him, members of his family and others, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.
“At this precarious stage in South Sudan’s short history, UNICEF fears that a further spike in child recruitment could be imminent”, said Justin Forsyth, deputy executive director for the United Nations children’s fund.
Mr. Machar’s spokesman, James Dak, on Thursday offered no additional information on the alleged assassination attempt. Machar has been replaced as first vice president by another official in his party, Taban Deng, but that appointment has not been accepted by many of his supporters.
A peace deal was reached last August and a transitional government of national unity was formed in April by Kiir and Machar after tens of thousands of victims were killed in fighting, and more than 2 million residents were uprooted from their homes since December 2013.
Political differences between Mr Machar and Mr Kiir ignited the civil war in December 2013 – and they only agreed to settle their differences under intense worldwide pressure, signing a peace deal last August.
In accordance with the 2015 peace deal, which received global backing, Machar returned to Juba, the capital, in April to resume his post as deputy to his rival, President Salva Kiir.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has launched an independent investigation into allegations that peacekeepers refused to respond to calls for help from civilians and foreigners as South Sudanese soldiers went on rampage on 11 July.
Gai warned Wednesday that Machar should stay out of politics to allow peace.
One former child soldier in South Sudan said he expected to be cooking and cleaning when he joined the army at age 16, but he wound up being ordered into combat.
The UN Security Council voted to send 4,000 regional peacekeepers to Juba to calm tensions last week.
The UN chief “urges, once more, the government of South Sudan to investigate these human right violations and to prosecute those involved in these unspeakable acts of violence”, his spokesman said.
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The UN agency said children continue to be recruited and used by armed groups and forces despite widespread political commitment to end the practice.
