In Juba, South Sudan’s capital, middle-aged and elderly residents — most of them veterans of the 21-year war with the north — converse in low tones as they sit under the trees sipping tea.

Among the questions some are asking are: Will First Vice President Riek Machar really return on April 18 as scheduled? Will his coming finally silence the guns, which have continued to fire off despite the two parties having signed the peace agreement in August 2015? And will there be forgiveness or retaliation?

Dr Machar’s arrival will confirm that the August 2015 peace agreement, which was signed two years after fighting broke out, will hold. It will also signal the formation of the long-delayed Transitional Government of National Unity.

Fighting broke out in the young nation in December 2013 and efforts to restore peace in the country have failed severally.

According to Minister for Information Michael Makuei, who is also the government spokesperson, Dr Machar had sent a letter to President Salva Kiir confirming his arrival on April 18.

READ: Machar to return to Juba on April 18

The people of South Sudan are optimistic that, once the Transitional Government of National Unity is in place, donors who had suspended their support when the war broke out, such as the United States, the European Union and Japan, will return.

A unity government is also expected to stabilise the South Sudanese pound against the dollar, and to end the shortage of essential commodities.

However, this time, unlike in the run-up to South Sudan Independence in July 2011 when the entire country was engulfed in celebration, there is silent hope and expectation.

Dr James Alic Garang, an independent economist with Ebony Centre for Strategic Studies, said there is hope that the economy will respond positively to the return of Dr Machar as has been experienced with the return of former detainees and recent arrival of Machar’s deputy, Gen Alfred Lagu Gore.

READ: South Sudan rebel deputy arrives in Juba

Dr Garang argues that people are positive because they have tasted the bitterness of war by witnessing bloodletting but the level of celebration is going to be subdued.

“It is difficult to celebrate after you witnessed the massacre of your relatives; but at the same time one is relieved that it has come to an end. It is like laughing with one eye and crying with the other,” said Dr Garang.

He is concerned that some supporters of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) have the belief that Dr Machar unilaterally holds the key to ultimate peace and his arrival would be like “an entry into Jerusalem.”

Most of the businesses are making plans of restocking in readiness for better times. Adil Mohammed, a wholesaler said he is just waiting for the formation of the transitional government before making orders for fresh supplies.

There is no major military alert except the normal patrol of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) troops in the streets of Juba. Some the government military personnel The EastAfrican spoke to are hopeful that the transitional government will alleviate their suffering because they sometimes go without salaries for three to four months.

Some of the internally displace persons who took refuge in the two UN camps in Juba have started coming out in anticipation of final peace, but the majority are still staying put for lack of assurance on their security and how they are going to earn a living after their livelihoods were destroyed during the war.

Anthony Deng, a motorcycle taxi operator who is also a first year accounts student at Christian University in Juba, believes that the transitional government will reduce fuel shortage and bring down pump prices that are having negative impact on their taxi business.

But veteran South Sudan journalist, Alfred Taban, who is also the publisher of Juba Monitor said the people’s expectation for immediate peace dividends are misplaced because the transitional government will take time to bring back normalcy. He, however, noted that a unity government will stabilise the market.

So far, the last batch of the required 1,370 security personnel of SPLM-IO arrived in Juba on April 9, where the troops and police were transported from Malakal to Juba, on a joint effort of United Nations and chartered aircraft.

READ: South Sudan rebel troops flown to Juba for Riek Machar security

François Fall, the Deputy Chairperson of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) — which is overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement — said the transportation of SPLM-IO to Juba was only possible with the financial support from China, Ethiopia, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Gen Gore, on his arrival on April 12 assured the public that SPLM-IO has accepted to join other stakeholders for the sake of peace and that the peace agreement will not be reversed.

Over 400 SPM-IO high ranking officers have been arriving in Juba since December. However, there are signs that the two parties are still suspicious of each other not knowing exactly what the other is planning. Some 20 supporters of SPLM-IO, who were mobilising city residents to go to the airport and welcome Gen Gore, were arrested and detained.

READ: 'Messy' peace hope as Juba readies for Machar's return

SPLM-IO insiders are worried about two diehard members of the government; Mr Makuei and the chief of general staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan. The two have maintained hard stance in the recent weeks, with Gen Malong announcing that he will never allow Dr Machar to become president so long as he is alive.

Mr Makuei on the other hand, has warned the media to be objective and not to be excited about Dr Machar’s arrival.