South Sudan: Sides trade accusations after deal falters

Rebels have accused South Sudan's government of resuming military attacks, a day after President Salva Kiir failed to sign a peace deal aimed at ending the civil war.

Rebel leader Riek Machar said the government had chosen war over peace.

But Mr Kiir's chief negotiator said the deal was a sell-out that could not be implemented as the rebels are split.

A key issue is thought to be a proposed power-sharing deal which could see Mr Machar return as vice-president.

The deadline for a peace deal expired on Monday night, and South Sudan's warring parties may now face international sanctions.

Tens of thousands have died and more than two million have been displaced since fighting broke out in the young state in 2013.

• At least seven ceasefires agreed and broken since conflict started in December 2013
• Nearly one in five South Sudanese displaced by the current conflict, from a total population of 12 million
• Former rebel leader Salva Kiir became president of South Sudan, the world's newest state, when it gained independence in 2011
• South Sudan has been at war for 42 of past 60 years

Five obstacles to peace in South Sudan^[1]

The sides traded accusations about who was responsible for an attack in the town of Pageri, near the border with Uganda, early on Tuesday.

Military spokesman Philip Aguer said rebel accusations were "lies" and blamed them.

At Monday's summit in Ethiopia attended by regional powers and international mediators, South Sudan's government initialled a draft agreement^[2], but requested a further 15 days before signing in full. Mr Machar did sign it.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Salva Kiir to sign up and cease hostilities, saying he was "deeply pained by the horrendous suffering of South Sudanese civilians".

The US was "deeply disappointed" that President Kiir's government had "yet again squandered" an opportunity to bring peace by refusing to sign the agreement, a statement from US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said.

"The US deplores this failure of leadership," it added.

A Ugandan spokesman said his government knew how hard it was to achieve peace "especially when the belligerents have big egos and... put their personal egos above national interests".

"We can only continue to mediate, to encourage every side to realise that their country is superior to every one of them individually," Shaban Bantariza said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

References

1. ^{^} Five obstacles to peace in South Sudan (www.bbc.co.uk)
2. ^{^} a draft agreement (drive.google.com)