South Sudan says peace talks nears conclusion

JUBA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's warring factions have agreed on a matrix for the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, paving way for signing a final accord in the near future, government spokesman Michael Makuei said on Wednesday.

Makuei told state-run radio, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, that the ongoing talks in neighboring Sudan will soon conclude after the warring factions agreed on key unresolved issues in the initial peace proposal.

He said cease-fire monitors from the regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have organized a three-day orientation workshop for the parties to the conflict to better understand the pact and that will mark the end of the negotiations on the peace agreement.

"The sub-committees that were working on the matrix have completed their tasks and today the matrix is completed and is ready now for assembling into one document," Makuei said.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.

The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under United Nations pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.

He said the final peace treaty will be delivered to the IGAD council of ministers and it is expected to be signed in Khartoum during the upcoming IGAD heads of states summit.

Several warring factions have been engaged in protracted negotiations since January seeking to revive the shattered peace deal.

"The agreement will be compiled together by the chief negotiator and will be presented to the IGAD council of ministers and then the IGAD summit will be followed by the final signing ceremony," he added.