South Sudan government fails to sign agreement with rebels; US, Britain to push for UN sanctions

By NewsGram Staff-Writer

United Nations: After Salva Kiir, the President of South Sudan failed to sign a power-sharing agreement with his former deputy, now rebel chief, Riek Machar, the United States and Britain have pushed for United Nation's sanctions against South Sudan government, according to a report published in Economic Times.

When both the President and the rebel chief met to sign the agreement, the President conveyed that he would return to finalize the agreement in early September. The US has heavily criticized the Kiir government's for "squandering" another opportunity to end the conflict in the country.

The power-sharing agreement to end the conflict and ensure peace was brokered by an eight-nation East African IGAD bloc that was backed by United Nations, European Union and African Union among others.

The UN Security Council will meet next Tuesday to discuss imposing sanctions on South Sudan. Nearly 70% of the South Sudanese population is facing acute food scarcity with nearly 200,000 people sheltered in UN bases, said the ET report.