Warring South Sudan leaders accept 'responsibility' for civil war

"The parties acknowledge a collective responsibility for the crisis in South Sudan that has taken a great toll on the lives and property of our people," said the text of a deal signed by Kiir and his sacked former deputy Machar in the Tanzanian town of Arusha.

It was the first time the bitter rivals had met since signing a ceasefire in August in Ethiopia^[5], which like three previous agreements swiftly collapsed.

Political and military leaders have repeatedly broken promises made under intense international pressure, including visits to South Sudan by UN chief Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

This time the two leaders said the now divided ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which brought the country independence after a long war with Khartoum, should be reunited.

"A divided SPLM will automatically fragment the country along ethnic and regional fault lines," the deal read, calling for "genuine and honest dialogue that puts the interest of the people and the nation above all."

Kiir vowed commitment to "the peaceful resolution of the crisis" in the impoverished but oil rich nation, just three years old but riven by war.

"There is no reason for our people to suffer again after independence," Kiir added.

The talks in the northern Tanzanian tourist town of Arusha follow an invitation from President Jakaya Kikwete, who has also met separately with both leaders.

Thousands of people have been killed and almost two million have fled fighting between government troops, mutinous soldiers and ragtag militia forces divided along tribal lines.

The war has spread rapidly across the country and been marked by widespread human rights abuses and atrocities by both sides.

Previous deals and promises between the pair have crumbled within days -- and sometimes just hours -- but Machar said he wanted this deal to last.

"We do not want this opportunity to go away like other opportunities before," Machar promised.

"We shall do our utmost to see that this process can be completed." The last deal in August ended days later when fighters downed a UN aid helicopter, killing three Russian crew members.

A third SPLM faction -- senior leaders imprisoned for months after war broke out in December, but also not allied to Machar -- signed the same deal to unite the party.

Almost 100,000 people are sheltering in squalid UN peacekeeping bases fearing they will be killed if they leave.

Earlier this month, a group of 19 major aid agencies warned that while massive food drops had helped avert famine for now, the threat remained, and the risk grew greater the longer the war continues and the weaker the people suffering become.

The deal follows a push last week by British, Norwegian and US special envoys who warned Kiir and Machar that they must put aside personal ambitions to settle a peace deal for the sake of their country.

Civilians have been massacred, patients murdered in hospitals and people killed sheltering in churches.

Levels of rape and sexual violence are the worst ever seen by the UN special envoy on sexual violence Zainab Bangura, who told AFP earlier this month of her shock following meetings with scores of survivors of attacks.

Two UN workers are still missing after they were seized by gunmen earlier this month.

References

1. ^{^} South Sudan (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Salva Kiir (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Riek Machar (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
4. ^{^} civil war (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
5. ^{^} Ethiopia (economictimes.indiatimes.com)