South Sudan’s Kiir to sign Yau Yau peace deal into law
July 10, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir said he will sign a peace agreement with Jonglei-based rebel leader David Yau Yau into law.
“I thank David Yau Yau for this courageous decision to stop the war and accept dialogue and [a] peaceful settlement of the crisis. Soon after this celebration, this agreement shall be signed into law and that is be followed by immediate implementation,” said Kiir.
Yau Yau’s South Sudan Democratic Front Cobra Faction reached a final peace agreement with the government in May following negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Yau Yau, who attended Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday in the capital, Juba, rebelled in 2010 after losing elections to represent Pibor county in Jonglei state’s legislative assembly, accusing the ruling SPLM party of rigging votes.
In 2011, he accepted a presidential amnesty, but rebelled again the following year.
The latest agreement gives the Greater Pibor administrative area (GPAA) special status under the office of the president.
President Kiir said the agreement will be fully implemented, including the nomination of an administrator and availing funds for the construction of a school, hospitals and a road in the Pibor area.
“As South Sudanese we have experiences of always solving our own internal crises by ourselves. This was demonstrated by my brother David Yau Yau a few months ago when he reached an agreement with us, the government,” said Kiir.
“No foreigner came to mediate amongst us and David Yau Yau. We knew our problems were our own and if we can solve them, it is better that we resolve them before the problem can finish us up. This is one good example,” the president added.
(ST)