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Death Toll Rising, 2 Sides Sign Pact to End South Sudan War Death Toll Rising, 2 Sides Sign Pact to End South Sudan War
(about 1 hour later)
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and the leader of the rebellion against his government, Riek Machar, signed an agreement on Friday to resolve the war that has torn their young country apart.ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and the leader of the rebellion against his government, Riek Machar, signed an agreement on Friday to resolve the war that has torn their young country apart.
The two sides had already signed a cease-fire deal in January, under which they were to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict. But the agreement fell apart almost immediately. Since the war began almost five months ago, thousands of people have been killed, more than one million have been displaced, and now international officials warn that a famine may loom. The two sides had already signed a cease-fire deal in January, under which they were to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict. But the agreement failed almost immediately. Since the war began almost five months ago, thousands of people have been killed, more than one million have been displaced, and now international officials warn that a famine may loom.
The talks on Friday, which took place in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, brought the two men, whose political rivalry set off the war, face to face for the first time since the conflict erupted. The negotiations came at a time of growing international pressure on both sides. This week, the United Nations issued a report that documented atrocities by both parties, and the Obama administration imposed sanctions on two individuals, one from each side.The talks on Friday, which took place in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, brought the two men, whose political rivalry set off the war, face to face for the first time since the conflict erupted. The negotiations came at a time of growing international pressure on both sides. This week, the United Nations issued a report that documented atrocities by both parties, and the Obama administration imposed sanctions on two individuals, one from each side.
“By me signing today this agreement, I’m sending a signal that this war must be ended peacefully,” Mr. Machar said. “I hope the other side will also be serious.”“By me signing today this agreement, I’m sending a signal that this war must be ended peacefully,” Mr. Machar said. “I hope the other side will also be serious.”
In his remarks, Mr. Kiir said, “We’re not here to bear witness of what we have done in our country, whether you’re on the wrong side or you are on the right side.”In his remarks, Mr. Kiir said, “We’re not here to bear witness of what we have done in our country, whether you’re on the wrong side or you are on the right side.”
In the agreement signed on Friday, both sides recognized that “there is no military solution to the crisis in South Sudan and that sustainable peace can be achieved only through inclusive political dialogue,” the negotiators announced.In the agreement signed on Friday, both sides recognized that “there is no military solution to the crisis in South Sudan and that sustainable peace can be achieved only through inclusive political dialogue,” the negotiators announced.
The parties agreed “to immediately cease all hostile activities within 24 hours” of the signing of the agreement, and they committed themselves to refrain from any provocative action until the signing of a permanent cease-fire. The parties also agreed that a transitional government of national unity was the best way out of the crisis. However, the agreement made no comment about who would be part of it.The parties agreed “to immediately cease all hostile activities within 24 hours” of the signing of the agreement, and they committed themselves to refrain from any provocative action until the signing of a permanent cease-fire. The parties also agreed that a transitional government of national unity was the best way out of the crisis. However, the agreement made no comment about who would be part of it.
The day before the talks, South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei, said that the government wanted an interim arrangement that would integrate the rebels but not allow them to share power.The day before the talks, South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei, said that the government wanted an interim arrangement that would integrate the rebels but not allow them to share power.
“If the rebels are genuine, they will agree with us on these issues,” Mr. Makuei said.“If the rebels are genuine, they will agree with us on these issues,” Mr. Makuei said.
Yohanis Musa Pouk, a spokesman for the rebels, said before the talks that their success would depend on Mr. Kiir’s willingness to give up power for the time being. Yohanis Musa Pouk, a spokesman for the rebels, said before the talks that their success would depend on Mr. Kiir’s willingness to give up power for now.
“We need an arrangement that excludes Salva Kiir from being part of the interim governance arrangement,” he said.“We need an arrangement that excludes Salva Kiir from being part of the interim governance arrangement,” he said.
Observers hoped for meaningful progress this time. Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College who has done extensive research on Sudan and South Sudan, called the talks “a last chance to halt the terrible ethnic violence that has ravaged South Sudan.” Observers hoped for real progress this time. Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College who has done extensive research on Sudan and South Sudan, called the talks “a last chance to halt the terrible ethnic violence that has ravaged South Sudan.”
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains critical. Months of fighting has prevented people from farming. The number of refugees and internally displaced people is increasing rapidly. Aid agencies face great difficulties in helping the local population. The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains critical. Months of fighting has prevented people from farming. The number of refugees and internally displaced people is increasing rapidly.
“The situation on the ground is terrible,” said Toby Lanzer, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan. “The fighting is ongoing, and heavier and heavier.”“The situation on the ground is terrible,” said Toby Lanzer, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan. “The fighting is ongoing, and heavier and heavier.”
Ethiopia, which has been hosting talks since the beginning of the year, has a direct interest in solving the crisis. According to the United Nations, 315,000 people have fled South Sudan to neighboring countries. Of those, 110,000 have sought refuge in Ethiopia. On Tuesday, the United Nations reported that 11,000 South Sudanese had crossed into Ethiopia within the past 72 hours alone, after fighting erupted over the weekend in the town of Nasir across the border. In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry said the agreement could “mark a breakthrough.”
The Ethiopian government is struggling to accommodate the arriving masses. It built three new camps, but two of them have reached capacity, and the third one will soon. Another camp is in the making. “I saw with my own eyes last week the stakes and the struggles in a new nation we helped courageous people create,” Mr. Kerry added. “The people of South Sudan have suffered too much for far too long.”
Ethiopia, which has been hosting talks since the beginning of the year, has a direct interest in solving the crisis. According to the United Nations, 315,000 people have fled South Sudan to neighboring countries. Of those, 110,000 have sought refuge in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government is struggling to accommodate the arriving masses. It built three new camps, but two of them have reached capacity, and the third one will soon. Another camp is in the making.
“It’s very difficult, but we have to receive these people,” said Ayalew Aweke, the deputy director of the Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs. “We’re doing our best.”“It’s very difficult, but we have to receive these people,” said Ayalew Aweke, the deputy director of the Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs. “We’re doing our best.”
The border is porous, and weapons are rife on the South Sudanese side. Until recently, the International Organization for Migration had evacuated refugees by boat each day. But the violence that broke out last weekend led to interruptions of the mission.The border is porous, and weapons are rife on the South Sudanese side. Until recently, the International Organization for Migration had evacuated refugees by boat each day. But the violence that broke out last weekend led to interruptions of the mission.
Most of the new refugees are women and children. Nyabile Nyuon, 28, escaped from the city of Malakal with her father. When she crossed the White Nile, her father was shot by government troops and died two weeks later, she said. “I don’t go back to South Sudan,” she said, crying.Most of the new refugees are women and children. Nyabile Nyuon, 28, escaped from the city of Malakal with her father. When she crossed the White Nile, her father was shot by government troops and died two weeks later, she said. “I don’t go back to South Sudan,” she said, crying.