Juba (AFP) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Wednesday urged rebel chief Riek Machar to restart talks to end a raging civil war between their forces that has driven the country to the brink of famine.
"Even if Riek Machar's forces still continue attacking our forces, I still renew my call for him to accept the logic of peaceful resolution," Kiir told crowds at celebrations to mark three years of independence.
"Put down your guns and come home."
South Sudan has been wracked by war since mid-December, when presidential guards loyal to Kiir clashed with troops supporting Machar, who fled to the bush and rallied a huge rebel army.
The fighting has been marked by widespread atrocities against both members of the Nuer people, to which Machar belongs, and Kiir's Dinka group, the single largest tribe.
Three ceasefire deals have failed to stick, and peace talks in luxury hotels in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have made little progress.
[1]South Sudan President Salva Kiir walks to a waiting airplane as he leaves Juba on June 25, 2014 to a …
Last month they halted indefinitely, with both sides refusing to attend the discussions, and blaming each other for the failure.
"If we don't stop war many of our people will continue to die," Kiir said, while insisting he was "still committed" to the talks.
Aid agencies have warned that without massive funding, famine zones will be declared within weeks.
Machar, speaking in the Ethiopian capital, said he was willing to resume talks.
"We are here seeking a peaceful solution to this problem... we are here ready to talk," he told reporters.
But he also lashed out at the "tyranny" of Kiir's government, and calling for sanctions on the leaders in Juba.
Under Kiir, "our country witnessed nothing but dictatorship, anarchy, corruption, tribalism and lack of development," Machar said.
Kiir also thanked Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who sent troops into South Sudan to prop up the government.
"Will not order the Uganda forces to leave South Sudan until I am sure that we are safe and our institutions are protected," Kiir told Museveni, who attended the celebrations.
The withdrawal of Ugandan troops has previously been a key demand of Machar for talks to progress.
- Politics & Government
- Unrest, Conflicts & War
- Riek Machar
- South Sudan
References
- ^ South Sudan President Salva Kiir walks to a waiting … (news.yahoo.com)
Source http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-president-urges-rebel-chief-resume-peace-talks-005017962.html
Newer articles:
- South Sudan president urges rebels to resume talks in independence day speech - 09/07/2014 16:59
- South Sudan's unhappy third birthday - 09/07/2014 15:29
- South Sudan's unhappy birthday - 09/07/2014 11:29
- South Sudan Marks Third Independence Day, Despite War - 09/07/2014 08:32
- War-torn South Sudan marks third anniversary as famine looms - 09/07/2014 05:44
Older news items
- Food from the skies to stave off South Sudan famine - 08/07/2014 23:13
- South Sudan: UN's Ban Urges Warring Leaders to Resume Talks - 08/07/2014 21:29
- UN's Ban urges warring South Sudan leaders to resume talks - 08/07/2014 20:21
- S.Sudan elite to blame for looming 'man-made famine', says UN - 08/07/2014 20:14
- S Sudan elite to blame for looming man-made famine : UN - 08/07/2014 19:41
Latest news items (all categories):
- The power struggles among South Sudan’s political leaders are the direct cause of its ongoing conflict - 11/07/2026 14:03
- Celebrating Independence In The Midst Of Sorrow - 11/07/2026 13:41
- South Sudan resumes oil-backed financing - 11/07/2026 13:33
- Press statement: Strive For National Unity In Honor Of South Sudan's Independence - 10/07/2026 21:23
- Fifteen years of independence for South Sudan, but still little to celebrate - 10/07/2026 21:23
Random articles (all categories):
- Sudan and South Sudan Military Talks End Border Tension - 29/08/2013 17:13
- Sudanese Warplanes Said to Attack South - New York Times - 23/04/2012 23:20
- Alei: South Sudan are not starting from scratch - Fifa.com - 26/06/2012 10:20
- South Sudan: 'We Will Not Give Up On Looking for Peace' - UN Deputy Chief - 06/07/2018 04:53
- Cry our beloved Gaza, but what about South Sudan? - 20/05/2026 13:59
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 147758 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27841 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 24931 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24251 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22161 times
