South Sudan's President Salva
Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar have agreed a peace deal after a five-month
conflict. According to BBC, the deal calls for an immediate truce and the
formation of a transitional government ahead of the drafting of a new constitution
and new elections. The conflict in the world's newest state has left thousands
dead and more than one million homeless. US Secretary of State John Kerry said
the deal "could mark a breakthrough for the future of South Sudan". "The
hard journey on a long road begins now and the work must continue," added
Kerry, who had played an instrumental role in bringing together the two sides
in the conflict. "I saw with my own eyes last week the stakes and the
struggles in a new nation we helped courageous people create. The people of
South Sudan have suffered too much for far too long." The rivals signed the deal in the
Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa late on Friday, after their first face-to-face
meeting since the hostilities began. The agreement calls for a cessation of
hostilities within 24 hours of the signing. A permanent ceasefire will then be
worked on. Kiir and Machar are to issue immediate orders for troops to end
combat and to allow in humanitarian aid. The deal was also signed by Ethiopian
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who hosted the talks. Leading mediator
Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin, from the regional IGAD bloc, congratulated Kiir and
Machar for "ending the war". South Sudan gained independence in 2011,
breaking away from Sudan after decades of conflict between rebels and the
Khartoum government. Source ( Walta )
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment