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South Sudan warring factions sign new peace deal in Tanzania

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South Sudan President Salva Kiir (L), Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete (C) and South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar (R) pose as they met for talks on October 20, 2014 in Arusha. Rival SPLM party factions have signed a peace deal in Arusha following dialogue mediated by regional leaders. PHOTO | FILE |

Rival SPLM party factions have signed a peace deal in Arusha, Tanzania, following dialogue mediated by regional leaders.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, former Vice President Riek Machar and former cabinet minister Deng Alor Kuol signed an agreement expected to diffuse the 13-month conflict that has engulfed Africa’s youngest nation.

The peace talks were hosted by Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete and attended by regional leaders including Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Ethiopia's Haile Mariam Desalegn and South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the IGAD rapporteur, commended the South Sudan leaders for signing the agreement, saying the move will set a foundation for a concrete peace process in the nation.

“I recall, it was towards the end of last year when President Kikwete mentioned that various groups of SPLM had approached him to see if the ruling Tanzanian Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party could help them come together again,” said the President.

He also pointed out that the Arusha process was to run in tandem with the ongoing IGAD peace process in Addis Ababa, adding “I remember telling him that we will be very supportive of that particular move given the fact that some of us change political parties every season.”

President Kiir and Mr Machar last met in November, 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they had a peace agreement. However, the peace deal was unsuccessful and shattered within a few hours.

READ: Regional leaders in South Sudan for peace talks

Hope for peace

He said regional leaders counted on the expertise of Tanzania and CCM to guide SPLM factions into reaching a consensus on issues which were dividing them.

“Today we hope that the instruments that have been signed here will indeed form the basis of bringing about peace in South Sudan which is the hope of the South Sudan and the East Africa region as a whole,” President Kenyatta said.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni thanked South Sudan leaders for signing the agreement saying, “By agreeing to reunite their party, they are making the peace process in Ethiopia easier because the conflict began at the party.”

Host President Kikwete thanked regional leaders for supporting his Government and the ruling CCM party efforts in bringing unity in the SPLM political party.

“Today indeed is a momentous day for the people of South Sudan. A new chapter of hope has been opened,” he affirmed. He said the agreement will help reconcile, heal and build South Sudan.

Others who spoke include South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa who urged the South Sudan leaders to continue dialoguing with one another even as they implement the agreement.

President Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan, former vice President of South Sudan Riek Machar and Mr Deng Alor Kuol pledged to honour the agreement, saying they are ready for the healing and reconciliation of their nation.