S. Sudan's warring communities ink deal to end violence

Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-24 04:25:01|Editor: yan
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by Denis Elamu

JUBA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese Dinka and Murle pastoral communities late Tuesday signed peace agreement in Juba to end more than three months of fighting that had threatened to worsen insecurity in the restive Jonglei and Boma states.

This came after the escalation in fighting dragged in senior army officers from the South Sudan army (SPLA) helping to arm the Dinka community to fight against Murle in Pibor area over cattle raiding and child abduction that left the UN and officials wary of the deteriorating security situation.

The violence that killed hundreds of people on both sides amid worsening food insecurity due to blocking of the Juba-Bor-Pibor road drew the attention of President Salva Kiir, who delegated vice president Taban Deng Gai to help reconcile the two warring parties.

"We shall implement this agreement on cessation of hostilities and we are going to launch an investigation so that we know who participated in this crisis between the two youth," Deng said in Juba.

He said there was ongoing investigation into several army officers involved in fueling the violence, and that the insecurity in the area threatened to exacerbate ethnic violence in the region.

The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) head David Shearer said increased violence have brought untold suffering on the population and that the humanitarian situation was now dire as thousands need food assistance.

The vice president said that within 30 days from signing of the peace deal there will be a general peace conference to bring the various communities in the region to discuss outstanding differences and review of progress.

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