Kenya welcomes South Sudan deal ceasefire agreement

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday welcomed the agreements on the cessation of hostilities in South Sudan and the status of the detainees. Kenyatta said the agreements reached in Ethiopia on Thursday was a milestone in the quest towards a comprehensive deal that would halt the violence that has engulfed the country for more than a month. "These agreements are an important milestone in the quest to end the current conflict and return South Sudan to normalcy, so that the citizens of Africa's youngest nation can put the history of suffering behind them," Kenyatta said in a statement issued in Nairobi. "Every South Sudanese, and every one of the neighbors of South Sudan, looks to these agreements as the start of initiatives that will bring the crisis to an end so that the promise of a new democratic nation is not betrayed," Kenyatta said. The Kenyan leader urged South Sudanese leaders to hold themselves accountable for delivering what their people so desperately desire:"a nation able to resolve its political differences peacefully; and one that allows its people a chance to lead decent, safe lives." The first concerns an immediate cessation of military actions and a second deals with the release of 11 political detainees that have been imprisoned since the start of the conflict in mid- December. "I am encouraged that these agreements pave the way for an all inclusive peace process that includes government, SPLM/A opposition, detainees, civil society, religious groups, and other interested stakeholders," Kenyatta said. The peace talks led by regional mediation bloc IGAD started early last month. Mediators said several steps need to be taken by both parties now that they have signed the agreements. The ceasefire seeks to ease a political dispute in the world's youngest nation between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, who was removed from office in July of 2013 and later accused of attempting a coup. The tensions escalated on Dec. 15, 2013 into a full-scale conflict between forces loyal to either side, driving 400,000 people from their homes and leaving twice as many in dire need of aid. The president congratulated the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its chairman, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, for the efforts thus far in restoring peace to South Sudan. "Significant as it is, the cessation of hostilities agreement is only one step. More difficult steps will follow in the coming days and months as the monitoring and verification of compliance with the agreement kicks in," Kenyatta said. The president also congratulated retired general Lazarus Sumbeiywo and other IGAD Special Envoys who have and continue to do an excellent job in ensuring that lasting peace returns to South Sudan. "We look forward to parties to the conflict doing all in their power to ensure safety of civilians and opening up of humanitarian corridors to allow emergency relief supplies to be delivered," Kenyatta said..