Ban welcomes signing of re-unification agreement by South Sudanese parties

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has welcomed the agreement on the reunification of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed by the South Sudanese parties in Arusha, Tanzania.

According to a statement issued by the UN Spokesman, Stephane DuJarric in New York, Ban called for the immediate implementation of the recommitment of President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement.

The UN secretary-general, who also urged the signatories to resolve the leadership issues of the SPLM, reminded the two parties of the need to quickly resolve their differences.

He urged them to use the opportunity of the forthcoming IGAD Summit to reach a final agreement on the end to the conflict.

Ban also advised the two parties to include a power-sharing formula and measures to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure accountability.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the agreement was signed in Tanzania last Wednesday.

NAN also recalls that fighting broke out in the newly-independent South Sudan in December 2013, when Kiir accused his sacked deputy, Machar, of attempting to overthrow his government.

The escalating war split the SPLM along ethnic lines and set off a cycle of retaliatory battles and killings across the country.

The internecine battles had left tens of thousands of South Sudanese dead and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

NAN also reports that the talks were hosted by Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, with leaders of neighbouring nations also flying in to ensure that arch-rivals endorsed the agreement.

The rival factions had had five previous ceasefire agreements signed over the course of 2014. (NAN)