JUBA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan formed a transitional unity government on Saturday after the youngest country in Africa had been ravaged by years of civil war.
Riek Machar, South Sudan's former rebel leader, was sworn in on Saturday as the first vice president of the new transitional unity government.
"I want to assure you that we will work collectively to end your suffering. I reiterate my commitment to work closely with President Kiir to implement the agreement in letter and spirit," Machar said.
Machar was sworn in along with three other new vice presidents -- Taban Deng Gai, James Wani Igga and Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, at a ceremony attended by some regional leaders in Juba.
The oath was administered by Chief Justice Chan Reech Madut after President Salva Kiir and Machar agreed to form the much-anticipated transitional unity government.
Machar, who leads the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), was appointed as the first vice-president by Kiir on Friday ahead of the inaugural ceremony.
Speaking after being sworn, Machar said he will work together with Kiir and other leaders to bring peace to the country and thanked those involved in the search for peace in the country.
"I promise to work collectively to end your long-suffering," he said.
Nyandeng, who is the widow of the late former rebel leader John Garang, called on the youth to make sacrifices by embracing peace and avoid "vitriolic speech".
"You have desired peace and now you have it. Let the nation-building begin with you in your house and your neighborhood," said Nyandeng.
"We must move forward as one people, and it will take full support of this government," she said.
Under the 2018 revitalized peace deal, which was signed in Ethiopia, the government and opposition groups are tasked with establishing a unified national army to avoid a repeat of the violence that destroyed the 2015 peace agreement.
