South Sudan conflicting parties sign Khartoum peace agreement

KHARTOUM - The parties to the conflict in South Sudan on Wednesday signed Khartoum Peace Agreement in South Sudan, including permanent ceasefire taking effect within 72 hours, according to Sudan's Foreign Minister Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, opposition leader Riek Machar, a representative of the political detainees in South Sudan and representatives for other South Sudan opposition groups signed on the agreement during a signing ceremony at Sudan's Presidential Palace in Khartoum.

The parties will agree on all ceasefire arrangements within 72 hours, including separation of forces in close proximity, withdrawal of allied troops, opening of humanitarian corridors and releasing prisoners of war and political detainees, according to the agreement.

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development in Africa (IGAD) and the African Union member states are invited to deploy the necessary forces to supervise the agreed permanent ceasefire.

The agreement stipulates that there will be a pre-transitional period of 120 days, followed by a transitional period of 36 months, during which the country should be prepared for elections that shall be open for all political parties.

It noted that the government of South Sudan, in collaboration with the government of Sudan, shall immediately rehabilitate the oil fields for the resumption and the restoration of the previous level of oil production.

Direct peace talks kicked off in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Monday between Mayardit and Machar, in addition to representatives of other South Sudan's opposition groups, under the patronage of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

South Sudan has been suffering from a civil war since December 2013 between the forces loyal to Mayardit and former Vice President Machar.