AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - "It will take time and a lot of good will to restore peace"

Wednesday, 17 February 2016 peace  

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "The South Sudanese say that we have reached the end of the line, zero point, but in fact we are less than zero, because what is destroyed is lost", say to Agenzia Fides local sources from Juba, capital of South Sudan, where the arrival of the former head of the rebellion, Riek Machar, as First Vice President (see Fides 13/02/2016) is expected.
"Machar has not yet returned to Juba because some parts of the peace agreement regarding the security situation of all the parties that signed it have not yet been implemented. In other words, it must ensure that the troops that Machar will bring with him for his own security does not collide with those loyal to President Kiir", sources told Fides.
"Machar therefore was appointed First Vice President of South Sudan in his absence, in the meantime President Kiir continues to rule, issuing decrees and one of them shocked the country. This is the decree that divides South Sudan in 28 States, a measure that is raising strong criticism and misgivings", adds our source.
"We are now living in expectation of the expiration of the ultimatum launched by Kiir to Machar which asks him to present himself in Juba by 19 February. After that date the President will begin the formation of the national unity government, as outlined in the peace agreements, whether Machar is there or not".
The compromise agreement that should pave the way to peace was mediated by IGAD, the so-called "Troika of nations" (Norway, Great Britain and the United States) and by the African Union, that ecercised strong influence for it to be signed in August.
"The agreement, therefore, allows Riek Machar to once again become First Vice President, a very complex thing because this does not certainly favor national unification" say sources to Fides. "Let us hope and see. It will take a lot of goodwill and continuous spirit of compromise so that peace can return to the Country", concludes the source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/02/2016)


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