President Kenyatta witnesses warring factions in South Sudan Sign peace pact

The two warring factions to the South  Sudan conflict this morning signed a peace agreement witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The new peace deal immediately ends any further bloodshed and all forms of hostility between the infighting groups.

Under the new peace pact , the warring factions  agreed to  adjourn  further talks until February 19  when the negotiations resume ahead of the final and comprehensive peace pact on March 5.

Any side  which violates the  new peace deal will face unspecified penalties from both the African Union and the United Nations Security Council, warned Chief Mediator, Ambassador Seuym Mesfen from Ethiopia.

President Kenyatta, Ethiopian Prime minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and Ambassador Mesfen asked the principals to the conflict to show statemanship and honour what they had signed.

The four day negotiations  leading to the peace agreement signed at 00.21 am this morning were characterized by tension, intense consultations, disagreements,  two postponements and political horse trading.

The peace pact  was first scheduled to be signed on Thursday, January 29, before the process was postponed to Saturday and then Sunday.

The negotiations leading to this morning’s signing ceremony in  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were held under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad ) whose rappoteur is President Kenyatta while Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn  who also witnessed the peace pact holds the chairmanship of the region body.

Igad groups eight countries that include Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia,, Uganda, Djibouti and the two twin states of Sudan and South Sudan.

The crisis in South Sudan started slsightly over a year on December 15, 2013 when former Vice President Dr Riek Machar left the government in  a huff when President Salva Kiir accused him of plotting a coup to seize power.

When Dr. Machar left government, he immediately became the leader of the  South Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-in opposition) while President Kiir was left holding to the ruling party, the South Sudanese Liberation Movement-Government of South Sudan Republic (SPLM-GSSR).

The ruling party has 332  members of parliament while the Dr. Machar led opposition has none.

Since the split, the  two sides and their supporters including militia and armed security forces have been engaged in  political skirmishes including killings.

 

 

The Igad grouping that comprises Heads of State and Government of the members has since held eight (8) meetings and summits to restore peace and security in the northern neighbor.

Before President Kiir and his former Deputy signed the peace deal, Ambassador Mesfen  briefed the media and other stakeholders over the peace deal saying the new agreement was an important development to end the bloody war.

He cautioned that all peace processes have their own challenges but expressed optimism that the new pact will lead to sustainable peace.

He told the two principals that by signing the peace deal, they were rededicating themselves to the ceasation of all  hostilities.

He Chief negotiator expressed confidence that the two principals will end the conflict immediately adding that the old age biblical  teaching of  revenge  and killing political rivals was no longer tenable.

“An eye  to an eye makes the world blind. There is no need for firing (shooting) at the other party who is likely to respond in kind”, said Ambassador Mesfen.

Thanking President Kiir and Dr Machar for  engaging in consultations and signing the peace pact, president Kenyatta said the Igad leaders have been seeking peace for South Sudan for a long time and expressed hope the new deal will hold.

“The people in the region and the whole world are hopeful for peace in South Sudan. The principals should commit themselves to peace until a final agreement is reached”, said President Kenyatta.

He added; “This is what the people of South Sudan are hopeful for and are confident peace will be restored”. He thanked the International community for overseeing the peace process.

The Ethiopian PM thanked Igad leaders for bringing President Kiir and Dr Machar to the negotiating table, hoping that the two principals will stop the suffering of the people of South Sudan.

“ I am  confident the two leaders will respect what they have signed ahead of the comprehensive peace agreement  on March 5”, said the PM.

He cautioned that failure to honor the agreement will result in grave consequences to everybody in the process especially the leaders of South Sudan.

He said the entire world is keenly watching to see whether peace will prevail in  the the war-ravaged  country.

President Kiir and Dr Machar exchanged the signed peace documents amidst ululations and jubilation amongst their supporters  who had accompanied them from South Sudan.

Besides stakeholders from South  Sudan, the peace deal making was witnessed by representatives from the USA, United kingdom, all other Igad members, Norway and China. Igad Executive Secretary Ambassador  Mahbub M Maalim and seasoned peace negotiator from Kenya, retired major General Elijah Sumbeiywo were also present.

 

It is hoped that the final and comprehensive peace agreement will  include details about the proposed Transitional Government of National Unity and comprehensive political reforms to facilitate General Elections scheduled for June ,this year.

It is also hoped the final peace agreement will address itself to the overhaul of the current security arrangement leading to a harmonized security team drawn from the two sides in the conflict.

The final agreement will also address itself on how the humanitarian crisis obtaining in South Sudan will be addressed.