Government signs peace deal with NAS breakaway group

Photo: South-Sudan's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) waiting amongst acacia trees at the front lines just north of Heglig.AFP PHOTO / ADRIANE O

The South Sudanese government signed an agreement with a breakaway faction from National Salvation Front (NAS) on Monday.

The South Sudanese government signed an agreement with a breakaway faction from National Salvation Front (NAS) on Monday.

The peace agreement was signed by Maj. Gen. Simon Carlo Lopanyang on behalf of the breakaway group, while Maj. Gen. Joseph Buong Anyardit signed on behalf of the government.

The deal was mediated by Elias Taban, Bishop of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church- Peace Desk in Yei River State. The agreement was also witnessed by Yei River State governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony.

It remains unclear when the group in Kapoeta defected from the main rebel movement led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka.

According to the document seen by Radio Tamazuj, political detainees and prisoners of war will be released immediately and reinstated to their previous institutions of employment.

 The deal provides for integration of all rebel fighters under the leadership of Gen. Carlo Lopanyang into the army and other organized forces.

The government, according to the deal, will allocate two ministries and two commissions to the breakaway group in the state.

The government agreed to return all properties belonging to the NAS faction that were either confiscated or frozen in the state.