South Sudan signs peace pact with rebel groups
South Sudan's ruling government, the transitional Government of National Unity signed a deal for peace with rebel leaders amidst the ongoing peace talks for the country in Kenya.
Although the content of the agreement have not been made public, Africanews reports that this marks the beginning of the road to peace in the country which has witnessed no peace for a long time.
In the presence of senior government officials, diplomats, opposition groups, civil society, and bilateral partners in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on Thursday, May 16, the South Sudanese government and rebel leaders signed the declaration of commitment to the Tumaini Initiative which means "hope" in Swahili.
This week, Kenya hosted high-level mediation talks initiated by President William Ruto earlier this month, aiming to establish a foundation for lasting peace in South Sudan as well as discuss the modalities of holding general elections scheduled for December.
Conflicts in South Sudan began in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir, from the Dinka ethnic group, accused his former deputy Riek Machar, from the Nuer ethnic group, of attempting a coup. This accusation escalated into violence between soldiers affiliated with each leader.
A peace agreement signed in August 2015 was short-lived after renewed violence. Further negotiations led to another agreement in June 2018, with a pledge to form a unity government.
Despite these peace agreements signed in 2015 and 2018 amidst international sanctions, conflicts in South Sudan have persisted over the years.
