ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER WITNESSES THE SIGNING OF AGREEMENT
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has pledged to implement the peace agreement he signed with his former deputy Riek Machar, now rebel leader in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa without fail.
President
Kiir and Machar at the signing of the agreement in Addis Ababa on
Friday May 9, as the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn looks
on. [Reuters photo]
Juba, 10 May 2014 - "I'm not here to respond to what my brother here (Machar) has said. I'm here to sign the peace agreement," Kiir said.The president declined to talk about a coup attempt but said a "gun doesn’t fire itself".
"I want to assure you that the party and army I'm leading will implement this agreement without fail," the president said. "I cannot let my people continue bleeding. I am the president and responsible for all the people of South Sudan."
The agreement mediated by the Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, also chairman of the regional block IGAD, calls for unity government to oversee government functions in a transitional period and will implement critical reforms via IGAD led negotiations.
"The transitional government of national unity will take the country forward and that will implement critical reforms as negotiated through the peace process including, overseeing a permanent constitution process, guide the country to new elections," a statement issued by the president's office said.
The agreement reiterates the need for cessation of hostilities with immediate effect that will lead to serious negotiations on ceasefire.
The agreement gives hope for peace but its implementation remains to be seen as the January cessation of hostility agreement was violated by both warring parties.
The Friday agreement comes a day after the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) human rights report accused both the government and anti-government forces of committing numerous crimes including crimes against humanity.
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