South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has urged citizens to “forget the past” and to welcome home the SPLM-IO rebels and SPLM-G10 politicians from exile after these groups signed a peace deal with the government allowing them to return back to Juba and other parts of the country.

The president spoke to parliament today addressing economic challenges and saying he was willing to implement the peace agreement that he signed in August with the SPLM-G10 and the SPLM-IO.

He noted, “We are also expecting the arrival of the advance teams of the SPLM/SPLA-In Opposition and Former Detainees in Juba as a measure of trust and confidence-building among ourselves...”

At the conclusion of his speech he said, “I appeal to all of you to welcome your brothers, your sisters, your sons and your daughters as they come back home to South Sudan. Welcome them with open hearts, reconcile, forgive each other, forget the past, open new pages, create trust, build confidence among yourselves, and live in peace and harmony.”

Kiir added, “To this end I would like you my people to note that we have more things that unite us than those that divide us. Let us unite our ranks for the overall interest of our people and that of our young nation South Sudan.”

However, earlier in his speech Kiir also accused rebel forces of continuing to carry out attacks in several areas, mentioning that they raided cattle from Nhialdiu in Unity State early this week. He also claimed that “the rebels are still planning for more attacks on Malakal, Tharjath, Bentiu, Rubkuna, Guit, Leer and Pan Akuach.”

Nonetheless, the president disclosed that the government has put in place “a number of executive committee to recommend the strategies and modalities which are important for the smooth implementation of the agreement.”