South Sudan leader optimistic of successful implementation of peace deal

JUBA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Tuesday expressed confidence in the successful implementation of the revitalized peace deal.

Kiir noted that the government will fund the six-month pre-transitional period process in a bid to consolidate lasting peace and stability in a conflict-torn east African country.

"I will supervise all the National Pre-Transitional Committee remaining critical tasks as a way to expedite the deal," Kiir said in Juba.

Kiir who spoke during the inaugural ceremony of the Transitional National Legislature first session, said his administration will lead the way in restoring broken hopes for peace and urge the partners to support the course.

He called on the opposition groups to trust the government, continue to make compromises and push towards successful implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

"My government will spend all resources at its disposal for the purposes of consolidating peace and stability in our country," he noted.

He observed that the action is not only a constitutional duty but also a moral and religious duty to bring peace to our people.

"As partners, we must rally the people to aspire for peace since the physical discomfort within us is an obstacle to peace and unnecessarily delays the implementation of the agreement," Kiir said.

He invited rebel leader Riek Machar to return home to help find amicable solution through the implementation of the agreement.

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 United Nations estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.

In September 2018, South Sudan's warring parties signed a final peace deal in Ethiopia after negotiations brokered by the Sudanese government and mandated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.