JUBA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The East African bloc and the UN refugee agency welcomed the formation of a long-awaited unity government in South Sudan on Saturday, bringing political rivals together to work for lasting peace.
In separate statements, UNHCR and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) urged regional and international partners to redouble their efforts in supporting the visions and aspirations of the people of South Sudan.
"The new government revives hope for a peaceful future for the people of South Sudan, who are suffering the consequences of this prolonged conflict," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.
He said the peace agreement has brought hope to the world's youngest nation, which remains Africa's largest humanitarian and refugee crisis with 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees and 1.46 million internally displaced.
"Millions of South Sudanese, including refugees and internally displaced people, deserve to see an end to their miseries," Grandi added and pledged UNHCR's support to South Sudan and its people in their endeavors to find peace and stability.
The new government follows the "Revitalized agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan" signed in September 2018 by South Sudan's warring parties.
President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar have agreed to join forces in running the conflict-affected nation and ending their years' old differences.
Machar along with other vice presidents, James Wani Igga, Taban Deng Gai, and Rebecca Nyandeng were sworn into office, ending the more than six years of conflict.
IGAD on its part said it is committed to continuing providing and mobilizing all the necessary political, technical and material support in the quest for peace, stability and nation-building in South Sudan.
The regional bloc, which brokered the September 2018 revitalized peace deal, said it was high time that these parties now overcome their internal differences and wrangles for the sake of peace.
"The people of South Sudan deserve to see harmony within the parties. It is not possible for a party that is not in peace within itself to be at peace with others. The parties should turn a new page as South Sudan ushers in the transitional period," said IGAD.
"Peace is not an end by itself but creates the environment necessary for a country to advance and prosper and hence the task of nation-building, that upholds the ideals of democracy and rule of law, should be given the due attention that it deserves in the upcoming transitional period," the bloc said.
