South Sudan: President Salva Kiir signs peace deal with SPLM-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) rebels
South Sudan president, Salva Kiir has finally signed the internationally-backed regional brokered peace deal, raising hopes of possible end months of conflict in the young nation amid threats for sanctions and an arms embargo.
Kiir inked the deal at 4.54 pm (local time) at a ceremony attended by his Uganda counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopian prime minister, Hailemarian Desalegn and Sudan’s vice president, Bakari Hassan.
He said he accepted to sign the deal because they were faced with the option of either rejecting peace or accepting war to continue against the will of the South Sudanese.
The South Sudanese leader, however accused forces loyal to former vice-president and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar of allegedly attacking government forces just hours prior to Wednesday’s signing of the agreement before regional leaders.