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Leader of South Sudan Refuses to Sign Peace Deal South Sudan’s President Lets Deadline for Signing a Peace Deal Pass
(about 4 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — Bucking the threat of international sanctions, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, refused to sign a peace deal to halt the nation’s civil war on Monday, the deadline for a final accord mediated by African leaders. UNITED NATIONS — Bucking the threat of international sanctions, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, refused to sign a peace deal to halt the nation’s civil war on Monday, the deadline for a final accord mediated by African leaders.
“If it is signed today and then tomorrow we go back to war, then what have we achieved?” Mr. Kiir was quoted as saying in a tweet posted by the South Sudanese government’s account. “If it is signed today and then tomorrow we go back to war, then what have we achieved?” Mr. Kiir was quoted as saying in a Twitter message posted by the South Sudanese government’s account.
South Sudan, which became the world’s newest nation four years ago to great fanfare, fell into a devastating civil war about 18 months ago. Thousands have died, more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes and nearly half the population is at risk of going hungry.South Sudan, which became the world’s newest nation four years ago to great fanfare, fell into a devastating civil war about 18 months ago. Thousands have died, more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes and nearly half the population is at risk of going hungry.
During his trip to Africa last month, President Obama convened a meeting of the region’s leaders to help press for an end to the fighting. He and the other leaders agreed to push the warring factions to sign a peace agreement by Monday and threatened both sides with sanctions or other measures if they did not comply. During his trip to Africa last month, President Obama convened a meeting of the region’s leaders to help press for an end to the fighting. They agreed to push the warring factions to sign a peace agreement by Monday and threatened both sides with sanctions or other measures if they did not comply.
But the South Sudanese government has said it needs 15 more days to decide whether to sign the agreement, which seeks to end the fighting that broke out in December 2013 and has torn apart the nation since then. But the South Sudanese government has said it needs 15 more days to decide whether to sign the agreement.
Two other factions signed the peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, among them Mr. Kiir’s chief rival, Riek Machar. Mr. Kiir was photographed shaking Mr. Machar’s hand. Two other factions signed the peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, among them the one led by Mr. Kiir’s chief rival, Riek Machar. Mr. Kiir was photographed shaking Mr. Machar’s hand.
“In the next 15 days, the government will come back to Addis Ababa to finalize the peace agreement,” said Seyoum Mesfin, the mediator for the regional African organization known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, Reuters reported. IGAD had set the Monday deadline for a final accord. Ceasefire deals have fallen apart in the past. “In the next 15 days, the government will come back to Addis Ababa to finalize the peace agreement,” said Seyoum Mesfin, the mediator for the regional African organization known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, Reuters reported. IGAD had set the Monday deadline for a final accord. The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions in July on six generals from rival factions. Their assets are frozen, and they face a travel ban.
The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions in July on six generals from rival factions. Their assets are frozen, and they face a travel ban.
South Sudan, rich in oil, also presents a crucial test of cooperation in the region between China and the United States. China’s state-owned oil company has a large stake in South Sudan’s oil fields. China has deployed an infantry battalion to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in that country — the first time it has sent a full battalion to a United Nations operation.South Sudan, rich in oil, also presents a crucial test of cooperation in the region between China and the United States. China’s state-owned oil company has a large stake in South Sudan’s oil fields. China has deployed an infantry battalion to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in that country — the first time it has sent a full battalion to a United Nations operation.
In Washington, John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said the United States “deeply regrets that the government of South Sudan chose not to sign an agreement that was supported by all of the states in the IGAD.” He said the United States “would consider ways to raise the cost for intransigence” if Mr. Kiir does not accept the accord soon. In Washington, John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said the United States “would consider ways to raise the cost for intransigence” if Mr. Kiir did not accept the accord soon.