South Sudan President Kiir signs peace deal

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has signed a peace deal with rebels after a threat of sanctions from the UN. He told those gathered for the signing ceremony in the capital, Juba, that he had “reservations” about how the mediation was conducted and some of the clauses in the compromise deal. Rebel leader Riek Machar […]

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has signed a peace deal with rebels after a threat of sanctions from the UN.
He told those gathered for the signing ceremony in the capital, Juba, that he had “reservations” about how the mediation was conducted and some of the clauses in the compromise deal.
Rebel leader Riek Machar signed the deal last week but Mr Kiir refused.
It is meant to end months of brutal civil war and will see Mr Machar return as vice-president.
Fighting between forces loyal to the two men over the last 20 months has forced more than 2.2 million people from their homes in the world’s youngest state, which broke away from Sudan in 2011.
The leaders of Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, who all helped mediate the negotiations, witnessed the signing.
In Juba says that before the signing, President Kiir spent hours in a closed-door meeting with the regional leaders.
Afterwards, he gave an address at Freedom Hall, speaking at length of his unease about the deal and saying he wanted these reservations to be on record, BBC reported.
During his speech, South Sudan’s president mentioned areas such as the ambiguous structure and command of the South Sudan forces once the transitional government takes office in 90 days.
He also had issues about the power-sharing arrangements.