Implement peace deal fully, Kiir tells Khartoum

By Mangoa Mosota and John Oywa

Sudanese Vice-President Salva Kiir says his country risked sliding back into civil war unless the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was implemented in full.

He claimed the Khartoum government was slow in implementing the peace deal brokered by Kenya in 2005 and warned that the entire Horn of Africa would equally suffer if the war broke out again.

"The war will not only affect Southern Sudan. It will infiltrate Kenya and other countries. The problem in Southern Sudan must be given attention by everybody," he said.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (left) is crowned by Great Lakes University of Kisumu Vice Chancellor Prof Dan Kaseje with an honorary Doctorate.

Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday night after he was installed as a Luo elder, Mr Kiir said the North was not keen on the peace agreement.

"We have tried to implement the agreement with difficulties. Our partners don’t want it implemented in full. They want to stop it on the way so that we go back to war," he said.

Resisting war

Added Kiir: "We have been provoked many times to push us back to war, but we have resisted because we know war will not solve anything."

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Cabinet Ministers William Ruto, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Dalmas Otieno, Kisumu Mayor Sam Okello and Luo elders were present.

Mr Kiir was made a Luo elder and presented with a traditional stool, goatskin bag, flywhisk to help restore peace in the region and a beaded cap similar to one that Raila’s father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, wore.

Luo Council of Elders Chairman Riaga Ogalo, said they honoured Kiir for his peace efforts in South Sudan.

And speaking yesterday after being conferred with an honorary degree by Great Lakes University of Kisumu, the former rebel leader said unstable countries surrounded Sudan, making its push for peace imperative.