PEACE RETURNS TO SOUTH SUDAN

South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar seal a peace deal at the State House In Juba Capital.

South Sudan forming a transitional coalition government on Saturday, in line with a revitalized peace agreement reached in September 2018, was aimed to eradicate the war that caused a lot of deaths and destruction.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit presided over swearing-in a ceremony for the first Vice president Dr Riek Machar along with three more vice presidents at the statehouse in capital Juba.

They included; James Wani Igga, ex-first vice president Taban Deng Gai, and Rebecca Nyandeng Garang -- the widow of SPLM founder John Garang De Mabior.

(L-R) South Sudan's ex-first Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Dr. Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, James Wani Igga and Rebecca Nyandeng Garang.

The groups forming the Alliance signed the peace deal on February 22, 2020, after they had reached the unity deal.

This ceremony was administered by the chief justice Reech Madut.

Mayardit urged the south Sudanese to forgive one another and end their differences and added that he would work hand in hand with his new deputies to lead the country on the right path.

“I am calling on all the people of South Sudan to forgive one another. I particularly want to appeal to the Nuer and Dinka communities to forgive one another and reconcile. I also appeal to the people of Equatoria, especially those who have experienced much of the devastation, to forgive and reconcile.”He added.

In over the past six years, South Sudan experienced a brutal war that almost killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions of others.

South Sudan has experienced several brutal wars leaving thousands killed and displaced over the past six years.

Some of the reasons that sparked off this war were when Kiir sacked Machar as vice president on suspicion of plotting a coup in 2013 two years after South Sudan gained independence from Sudan.

Since the outbreak of conflict, armed groups have targeted civilians along ethnic lines, committed rape and sexual violence, destroyed property and looted villages, and recruited children into their ranks.

South Sudanese flee their homes to neighboring countries.

This also claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced 4 million people to flee their homes to neighbouring countries.

The incumbent government led by Kiir will have two vice presidents, 21 ministers, five deputy ministers, and 332 parliament members.

Under the peace agreement, the unity government will have 35 ministers, 10 deputy ministers, and a 550-member parliament.

“We are proud to report to him that we have also reconciled,” Kiir said. “We were greatly humbled and challenged” Machar concluded.