South Sudan president signs peace deal with reservations

Juba: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Wednesday signed a peace document proposed by the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development in Africa (IGAD) in the presence of regional head of states, a local radio station reported. However, after signing the peace deal, president Kiir said he had reservations about the document that need to be addressed, according to the report.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn attended the signing ceremony in Juba, Xinhua reported. On August 17, Riek Machar, leader of South Sudan's major rebel group, signed the IGAD proposed peace deal with the Secretary General of the ruling party, Pagan Amum, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

However, Kiir, refused to sign the deal, demanding a two-week extension. South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013 when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Kiir and defectors led by his former deputy Machar. The clashes killed thousands of South Sudanese and forced around 1.9 million individuals to flee their homes.

(IANS)