South Sudanese foes sign final peace deal

By Deng Machol

File Picture.Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir hold hands with Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar during a peace meeting in Khartoum as part of talks to negotiate an end to a civil war that broke out in 2013, June 25, 2018. /REUTERS

Kampala – South Sudan warring parties signed final peace deal on Sunday evening in Khartoum, in an efforts ending more than four years of conflict in the youngest nation.

President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar, a representative of the former political detainees and representatives for other South Sudan opposition groups signed on the agreement during a signing ceremony at Sudan’s Presidential Palace in Khartoum, capital Sudan.

This peace agreement focuses on powers – sharing (governance) and security between the warring parties.

Sudanese foreign minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed announced that the holdout opposition groups have finally agreed to sign the deal.

This direct peace talks amongst warring parties were hosted under patronage of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

According to this peace, president Kiir will led the transitional government for 36 months, with Riek Machar reinstated as the country’s first vice president and more four vice presidents.

The deal also provides for 35 ministries during the transitional period. According to the deal, there will be 550 members of parliament.

Kiir’s side will take 20 slots in the new 35-member government, while Machar’s SPLM-IO and other smaller opposition groups will take the rest.

Previous peace deal signed held for a months before fighting erupted again in 2016.

South Sudan has just returned to civil war in 2013, two years after her independence from Sudan in 2011. Fighting has claimed tens thousands of people and displaced 2.5 people from their homes. Conflict has ruined oil production, caused economic crisis in the country.