KAMPALA Uganda—South Sudan has offered to reinstate its exiled former vice president, Riek Machar, in an effort to quell a civil war that has been devastating the world’s youngest nation.
The agreement was reached in talks hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that brought together Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Uganda’s government said in a statement Sunday. The deal will see Mr. Machar, the veteran guerrilla fighter turned opposition leader as one of four new vice presidents based in new regional capitals, part of a revitalized transitional government deal to end the conflict.
The peace push comes amid a more hawkish position from the U.S., South Sudan’s largest donor of humanitarian assistance, which has said it would review its assistance programs because it couldn’t continue a partnership with leaders perpetuating “an endless war.”
In a statement on Sunday, the warring South Sudan factions said that the decision had been made after a 10-hour-long meeting at Mr. Museveni’s lakeside residence in the Ugandan capital, Entebbe.
Mr. Machar couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
International efforts have intensified in recent weeks to end the five-year civil war that has splintered South Sudan, roughly the size of France, along ethnic lines. The conflict has pitted Mr. Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group against Mr. Machar’s Nuer community, leaving more than 50,000 people dead and pushing millions to the brink of famine. It has created Africa’s largest refugee crisis since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Given a history of multiple failed deals and deep-rooted mistrust since the conflict erupted in 2013, analysts remained skeptical about the latest deal.
“The opposing parties still have disagreements concerning the proposed power-sharing framework” said George Ott, an analyst with NKC African Economists. “This could create a sticking point in further talks and delay the adoption of a final agreement.”
South Sudan’s presidency said in a statement that although Messrs. Kiir and Machar agreed to the proposal, there would be more consultations before a final decision is reached.
The conflict erupted after Mr. Kiir accused his deputy, Mr. Machar, of plotting a coup. The country, which holds Africa’s third largest oil reserves after Nigeria and Angola, has seen its oil production decline by more than 50% to around 130,000 barrels-a-day, dashing fanfare that accompanied the nation’s independence from Sudan in 2011.
The latest talks came after the intervention of Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, who invited Mr. Machar for talks with Mr. Kiir in June. Mr. Machar has been under house arrest in South Africa since the peace deal with the South Sudanese government collapsed in August 2016. The Ethiopian leader also invited Uganda and Sudan.
South Sudan has long been a site of mutual interventions and proxy conflict between Kampala and Khartoum. Uganda backed South Sudan rebels during the two-decade war with Sudan, prompting Khartoum to back Lords Resistance Army rebels against Kampala in retaliation. Analysts say the involvement of the two countries in the latest efforts could eventually deliver a more lasting peace solution.
More talks are planned in Kenya and Ethiopia before a final deal is reached, according to Uganda’s foreign affairs ministry. The proposed comprehensive agreement provides for a transitional government for three years, followed by a general election.
Write to Nicholas Bariyo at
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