South Sudan government, rebels sign new peace deal

JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s warring parties on Wednesday signed what they say is the final peace agreement to end the country’s five-year civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

Several preliminary agreements have already been signed but both sides say this is the concluding version.

President Salva Kiir and head of the opposition, Riek Machar as well as the other opposition parties signed the “final final” deal in neighboring Ethiopia, government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told The Associated Press. He said the agreement is acceptable to all parties and noted that Kiir and Machar had an amicable chat after the signing.

“The president was interacting very well with Riek Machar … he was talking to him in a very friendly way,” said Ateny.

While the government is optimis- tic about the new deal, many international observers remain skeptical.

“We remain concerned about the parties’ level of commitment to this agreement and to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement,” said a statement on Wednesday by the UK, the U.S. and Norway, the troika that worked to bring South Sudan to independence in 2011. To be convinced of both sides’ the commitment to peace, they need to see a significant change in approach, said the three countries in a statement.