S Sudan signs peace deal

The South Sudan Defence Force and rebels allied to former first vice-president Riek Machar have agreed to cease hostilities in the northwest restive region of Wau, where a recent report by an international nongovernmental organisation blamed both sides for displacing thousands of people in June, the Daily Monitor reported yesterday.

Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesperson for Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition, said the two sides have agreed with government troops to cease hostilities in order to restore security that will create a suitable environment for people to harvest their crops ahead of the dry season.

“The parties renewed their commitment to stop hostilities to create a climate suitable for citizens to harvest their crops from their gardens now that the dry season is approaching,” Gabriel said, adding that soldiers from both sides have been cautioned to avoid indiscriminate shooting.

This comes on the heels of the recent cessation of hostilities deal between the two sides in the Yei River state near the Ugandan border and the opening up of a key humanitarian corridor in the Pibor area bordering Ethiopia.

The displacement of civilians, looting and destruction of property in June during a retribution operation in the south and west of Wau was blamed on government troops by human rights groups.

In September, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, his former deputy and rival Riek and opposition groups signed a new power-sharing deal aimed at ending the five-year old conflict. – ANA