South Sudan president signs peace deal despite concerns

Aug 31, 2015 South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir, recently signed an IGAD proposed peace deal to end a 2 year old conflict with rebels in Africa youngest nation.

President Salva Kiir had previous asked for more time for consultations last week; an action that attracted sanctions threats from the United Nations, should he fail to sign the agreement within a two-week deadline.

Speaking at the deal signing ceremony in Juba, President Kiir expressed his reservations over the terms of the deal, but went on to solicit the support of the regional leaders in the implementation thereof.

“We will sign these documents, but I warn you, you regional leaders to stand with us in the implementation, otherwise we may spoil it if it is left to us. There is now fighting today and that fighting was uncalled for. The commanders fighting in the field, what do they want to achieve or what do they want to show us? The message is very clear, that what we are doing here is not accepted by the other side,” Kiir said.

The peace deal came on the back of several broken ceasefire deals and months of negotiations, hosted by Ethiopia.

Rebel leader Riek Machar, who is expected to become the First Vice President under the deal, had endorsed the document last week in Addis Ababa despite voicing concerns over the aspects of power sharing.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, responded to the South Sudanese leaders saying:

“I know some have reservations. I will appeal to you to set aside those reservations, to look at the greater picture, to look at the people that you lead, to look at the need for peace, to look at the need for unity,” Kenyatta said.