{UAH} Uganda tells South Sudan to sign peace deal
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10:20 AM |
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Uganda tells South Sudan to sign peace deal
The blunt words from a regional power underlined growing exasperation among African and global leaders over a string of broken ceasefires and accords in the world's newest nation.
The United States has threatened sanctions if no deal is reached, adding to the pressure by announcing it was consulting with other countries on imposing United Nations sanctions on anyone who undermined the peace process.
Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's national security adviser, said Washington DC was considering sanctions "if an agreement is not signed by the government within 15 days and a cease-fire is not implemented promptly by all parties."
Kiir asked for another 15 days of discussions, shrugging off pressure to meet this week's deadline for a deal.
His spokesman told journalists in Juba the pact on the table had been a "sell-out", without going into details.
A procession of African leaders flew in to join the negotiations in Addis Ababa and press for an agreement, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who at one stage stormed out of the venue.
"The Ugandan government knows how strenuous it is to achieve peace between belligerents, especially when the belligerents have big egos and when those belligerents put their personal egos above national interests," Ugandan government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said in Kampala.
"We can only continue to mediate, to encourage every side to realise that their country is superior to every one of them individually."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Kiir to sign the peace deal.
"The secretary-general is deeply pained by the horrendous suffering of South Sudanese civilians and calls on all belligerents to immediately cease all hostilities," Ban's press office said in a statement.
OIL, CHAOS
South Sudan, an oil producer which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, descended into chaos in December 2013 when a political dispute between Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar spiralled into armed conflict that reopened ethnic fault lines.
Machar, who signed the deal, accused government troops of launching attacks on opposition forces' positions just hours after Kiir snubbed the peace deal.
"The regime in Juba rejected to sign the peace agreement because it has chosen war over peace," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
The government rejected those assertions, instead accusing the rebel forces of starting the clashes.
"These are lies. It is the rebels that have attacked Pageri town this morning at 10am. The rebels set fire to civilian houses and left many casualties," Philip Aguer, spokesman for the military, said.
He said an assessment of the damage and casualties caused by the fighting in Pageri was being carried out by the military.
At the US State Department, spokesman John Kirby said if news reports of government attacks on rebels were true, it would be concerning.
"If it's true, it is deeply concerning to us and manifestly unhelpful to moving forward with the peace process," Kirby told a daily briefing, adding: "Again, we urge the government ... to sign in order to move forward."
Rights groups have accused both sides of abuses in clashes and raids often pitting Machar's Nuer group against Kiir's Dinkas. Fighting has killed more than 10,000 people and forced more than 2 million to flee their homes.
A member of the mediation team from regional bloc IGAD told Reuters that Kiir, who only initialled the deal, rather than signing it as Machar did, had reservations about a provision in the plan to demilitarise the capital, Juba.
Kiir had sought to scrap a provision that called for consultations with Machar on "powers, functions and responsibilities" he would exercise in any future administration, the official said.
Gwokto La'Kitgumvery high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." MulindwaDisclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.
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