South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir appeared to snub his main rival Riek Machar for a handshake Sunday after they signed a final peace deal — a move that bewildered many people.
News cameras captured the South Sudanese leader appeared to pass over the opposition leader’s hand and instead shook others’ hands.
Machar seemed stunned by the apparent snub, and let out a slight smile as he returned to his seat at the signing ceremony of the peace agreement at Friendship Hall in Khartoum.
The video, which quickly went viral, shows opposition leader Riek Machar turning toward President Kiir for a handshake after signing the deal, but the president appeared indifferent and went straight to shake hands with others instead.
The move, observers say, shows the deep mistrust between the two peace partners.