AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – No celebration was held in Juba for the signing of the peace agreement, "too many deaths for us to rejoice"

Thursday, 27 August 2015

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - "In Juba there was no celebratory atmosphere because the suffering caused by the civil war is immense" say local sources from the capital of South Sudan to Agenzia Fides, where yesterday, 26 August, President Salva Kiir, signed the peace agreement to end two years of civil war that devastated the country.
"The war caused tens of thousands of victims, immense atrocities and destruction. Even those who did not suffer the direct consequences of the war because they lived in areas where there was no fighting, suffered from the collapse of the economy caused by the conflict. Living conditions have worsened except for a small minority of politicians and high-level officials. Therefore, there is no reason to celebrate the agreement signed by the person who threw the country into this situation" explained Fides sources.
The peace agreement was sponsored by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda) and provides, among other things, a power-sharing between the two contenders of the conflict, President Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar.
"It is a controversial peace agreement because the President signed expressing what he called "serious reservations", by adding an addendum that sets new conditions" underline our sources.
"Salva Kiir decided to sign but suffered strong pressure from some members of his own government and the army who asked him not to sign. The person, who fought against the agreement is the army commander, who opposed until the last minute. Yesterday there was tension in Juba" said Fides sources.
"There remains concern that the differences in the armed forces can derail the implementation of the agreement. Let us hope this does not happen", they conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/08/2015)


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