Khartoum (Halbeeg) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and long-time rival Riek Machar on Tuesday signed ceasefire deal following talks in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
The two who lead the factions fighting in South Sudan met face-to-face last week in Addis Ababa for the first time since 2016.
The figures moved to Khartoum yesterday to continue their talks to end the civil war which ravaged Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan.
Kiir and Machar appended their signature on a deal comprising several points.
Among the issues the two agreed are: a permanent ceasefire, cantonments for all forces and the deployment of forces by Igad and the African Union to safeguard the ceasefire.
The agreement inked by the two leaders also recognised three capital cities.
They include Wau, Juba and Malakal towns.
Speaking after signing the agreement, Machar who was recently released from House Arrest noted his commitment to respect the deal.
“We are committed to ensuring that peace returns to South Sudan. We are also committed that if the agreement is signed, that agreement must be implemented,” said Machar.
On his part, Kiir said he came to Khartoum ready to compromise.
“This is a very important commitment so that we get ourselves out of the shame this senseless internal conflict has put on us as the leaders of South Sudan and to allow our people to enjoy their hard-won independence in peace, unity and prosperity,” Kiir said.
Kiir pledged that he would work with Machar in the implementation of the deal inked.
We will work as a team to fulfil the points we agreed upon with the other side.
A landlocked state with a large ethnic mix, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a long and brutal war.
The event was hailed around the world and by celebrity supporters such as George Clooney.
But in 2013, Kiir accused Machar, his vice president, of plotting a coup against him, and violence erupted between the two factions, feeding on brooding ethnic tensions.
They have not met since July 2016, when heavy fighting in the capital Juba signalled the collapse of a 2015 peace deal and Machar fled to South Africa.
The renewed violence spread across the country, spawning numerous new armed opposition groups and further complicating peace efforts
In May, the UN Security Council gave the two warring sides a month to reach a peace deal or face sanctions.
United State (US) which was backing South Sudan during its separation from Sudan this month threatened parties on both sides of the conflict with sanctions.
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