Addis Ababa. East African leaders met in Ethiopia on Sunday ahead of a deadline for South Sudan’s warring leaders to strike a peace deal or risk international sanctions.
South Sudan’s government and rebels are under intense diplomatic pressure to sign a deal by August 17 to end a 20-month civil war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed.
But South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said he would not go to the talks and would send his deputy instead, after complaining it was not possible to strike an effective deal because rebel forces have split.
Vice-President James Wani Igga is expected to take his place, a presidential spokesman said.
The latest round of talks opened on August 6, mediated by the regional eight-nation bloc IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as the United Nations, African Union, China and the “troika” of Britain, Norway and the United States.
Diplomats have warned any failure to sign a peace deal could trigger “serious consequences” for the rival leaders.
“We expect the parties to be represented in Addis Ababa by their principals, in order to negotiate in good faith and sign an agreement,” IGAD and international mediators said in a statement.
Britain’s minister for Africa, Grant Shapps, warned on Friday of possible “targeted sanctions” and an arms embargo if no deal is made.
The war has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides. (AFP)
South Sudan’s government and rebels are under intense diplomatic pressure to sign a deal by August 17 to end a 20-month civil war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed.
But South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said he would not go to the talks and would send his deputy instead, after complaining it was not possible to strike an effective deal because rebel forces have split.
But South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has said he would not go to the talks and would send his deputy instead, after complaining it was not possible to strike an effective deal because rebel forces have split.
Vice-President James Wani Igga is expected to take his place, a presidential spokesman said.
The latest round of talks opened on August 6, mediated by the regional eight-nation bloc IGAD, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as the United Nations, African Union, China and the “troika” of Britain, Norway and the United States.
Diplomats have warned any failure to sign a peace deal could trigger “serious consequences” for the rival leaders.
“We expect the parties to be represented in Addis Ababa by their principals, in order to negotiate in good faith and sign an agreement,” IGAD and international mediators said in a statement.
Britain’s minister for Africa, Grant Shapps, warned on Friday of possible “targeted sanctions” and an arms embargo if no deal is made.
The war has been marked by widespread atrocities on both sides. (AFP)
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