AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - There are few hopes that the peace agreement will be signed by 17 August

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - Negotiations between the South Sudanese factions have resumed in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in order to end 19 months of civil war. The peace plan, presented by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the organization that brings together the States of the Horn of Africa), called IGAD Plus Compromise Peace Agreement, was however rejected by the government of President Salva Kiir, while his opponent, former Vice President Riek Machar said he was willing to approve it if the amendments proposed by him are adopted.
The plan allows the government of Kiir, 53% of the executive at a national level and 33% to Machar, while other political parties are given the remaining 7%. The rebels will control 53% of the local governments of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States (with 33% to Kiir and 7% to other parties).
Christian leaders through Mgr. Paolino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba, have called on all parties to accept the peace plan. "The IGAD Plus Compromise Peace Agreement is not perfect", said Mgr. Loro, but by not signing it "means that fighting will continue because there is no other way to stop it".
The agreement must be signed by August 17, but there is little hope that this will happen. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 07/08/2015)