JUBA SEPTEMBER 15 2015 (CISA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has called on everyone in the country to “join hands” in implementing the recently signed peace deal to end more than 20 months of conflict, Reuters reported.
“I call upon all of you to join hands with me,” President Kiir said September 15 and urged South Sudanese to work together “during the transitional period until the general elections in 2018, until we bring peace to our country.”
“I am committed to peace and the implementation of the agreement,” he added.
President Kiir signed the peace deal on August 26, just over a week after rebel leader Riek Machar did so but he [President Kiir] had voiced “serious reservations” and accused African and other mediators of using intimidation to push him to agree the terms.
Since then, each side has accused the other of violating the agreement that called for permanent ceasefire.
According to the United Nations the conflict in South Sudan has killed thousands of people and driven more than 2 million from their homes.
