South Sudan president meets leaders ahead of peace deal

AFP, JUBA: South Sudan President Salva Kiir met regional leaders yesterday ahead of an expected signing of a peace deal with rebels, amid threats of UN sanctions in the absence of an accord.
Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny has told AFP that Kiir “will sign the peace agreement”, but the government has said it still has “reservations” about some parts of the power-sharing deal.
At least seven ceasefires have already been agreed and then shattered within days—if not hours—in the world’s newest country, which broke away from Sudan in 2011. But the deal, if signed Wednesday, would give rebels the post of first vice president, which means that rebel chief Riek Machar would likely return to the post from which he was sacked in July 2013, six months before the war began.
Machar already signed the deal on August 17, but at that time, Kiir only initialled part of the text. His government then slammed the accord as a “sellout” and said it needed more time for consultations.

South Sudan president meets leaders ahead of peace deal

AFP, JUBA: South Sudan President Salva Kiir met regional leaders yesterday ahead of an expected signing of a peace deal with rebels, amid threats of UN sanctions in the absence of an accord. Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny has told AFP that Kiir will sign the peace agreement, but the government has said it still has reservations about some parts of the power-sharing deal. At least seven ceasefires have already been agreed and then shattered within daysif not hoursin the worlds newest country, which broke away from Sudan in 2011. But the deal, if signed Wednesday, would give rebels the post of first vice president, which means that rebel chief Riek Machar would likely return to the post from which he was sacked in July 2013, six months before the war began. Machar already signed the deal on August 17, but at that time, Kiir only initialled part of the text. His government then slammed the accord as a sellout and said it needed more time for consultations.