South Sudan rebel chief refuses final peace deal

Riek Machar, the South Sudan rebel leader, refused to sign a final peace deal with the government yesterday, in a setback for a regional drive to end nearly five years of brutal civil war.

Machar and Salva Kiir, the president, have held talks in Khartoum in search of a final peace deal to end the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since 2013.

The warring parties have previously made several agreements, including a permanent ceasefire and a powersharing deal.