Posted February 02, 2015 12:18:23
South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit and rebel leader Riek Machar have signed a new "partial" agreement to end more than 13 months of fighting in a civil war that has left tens of thousands dead.
"Complete cessation of hostilities in South Sudan is expected as of [Monday]," Seyoum Mesfin, a negotiator from the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc, told reporters.
The ceasefire deal was signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The two leaders have signed, and then broken, at least six previous ceasefire agreements since fighting began in December 2013.
The eight-member East African IGAD bloc has in the past threatened sanctions over violations but never taken action.
It said this time it will take any ceasefire violations to the UN Security Council and the African Union's Peace and Security Council and ask for "tough measures" against them, Mr Mesfin said.
After four days of difficult negotiations in Addis Ababa, Mr Kiir and Mr Machar have failed to reach agreement on the conflict settlement proposed by IGAD which provides for a power-sharing arrangement between the two men.
"This is a partial agreement because we have not solved some of the most critical issues," Mr Machar said after the signing.
He cited disagreements on the "transitional government structure" to set up and divide responsibilities within the administration.
Negotiations will resume on February 20 with IGAD giving the warring sides one last chance to reach a final agreement by March 5.
Fighting broke out in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, in December 2013 when Mr Kiir accused his sacked deputy Mr Machar of attempting a coup.
Clashes between a faction of the army loyal to Mr Kiir and rebels loyal to Mr Machar have since expanded throughout the country and left tens of thousands dead in a conflict which now involves 20 armed groups.
Mr Kiir and Mr Machar last met in November in Addis Ababa, where they agreed an immediate halt to the war - a deal broken within hours.
The fighting in the capital Juba set off a cycle of retaliatory massacres across the country, pushing it to the brink of famine.
AFP
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, ethiopia, sudan