South Sudan president and rebel leader sign 'power sharing' deal

By

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar signed a power sharing agreement on Monday, African diplomatic sources said, edging closer to a final deal to end a 15-month conflict that has ravaged the world's newest country.

Under the agreement, which the leaders signed shortly after midnight, Kiir would remain president in a new administration while Machar would be appointed vice president, two African diplomats who work for the regional IGAD bloc told Reuters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Seyoum Mesfin, chief mediator of the East African IGAD bloc, said ahead of the signing ceremony that the two leaders had agreed to resume talks on 20 Feb.

"(Those talks) would be final and that would lead them into concluding a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis in South Sudan," Mesfin told reporters minutes before Kiir and Machar signed the latest peace deal.

Several previous peace deals and ceasefires that accompanied the agreements were swiftly broken.

Tags
Salva Kiir, South Sudan
Join the Discussion
More News
No Jail for Medical Student Found Guilty of Raping Drunk

No Jail for Medical Student Found Guilty of Raping Drunk Woman Who 'Couldn't Possibly Consent': He Is 'Young' and 'Talented'

Puerto Rican Server Told to 'Go Back to Mexico' By

Puerto Rican Server Told to 'Go Back to Mexico' by Customers in Racist Note: 'No Tips for Illegals'

Georgia Man Chris Louis Leaves Children at McDonald's

Georgia Dad Left Young Children at McDonald's While He Went to a Job Interview. Cops Were Waiting When He Returned

Kolstad Stoeckel

Minnesota Man Begged Deputies to 'Put One in My Head' After Shooting Sleeping Roommate: Police