Military commanders allied to opposition leader Riek Machar on Thursday participated in peace celebrations organized by the government in Yambio town as a good gesture for reconciliation.

Addressing a crowd of citizens at Freedom Square, SPLA-IO commander James Naando said they came to Yambio to attend the peace celebration of achieving peace in the country.

Naando pointed out that the peace partners have agreed to allow humanitarian access and free movement of people in Gbudue State.

For his part, the governor of Gbudue State Daniel Badagbu said his government decided to host the event to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalized peace agreement.

The top state official further said peace is a shared responsibility, urging the people of Gbudue State to embrace peace and reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Tambura Edwardo Hiboro urged the parties to work for peace and unity. The religious leader also emphasized the need for accountability to move the country forward.

In September, President Salva Kiir and several opposition groups inked the final peace accord under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

 The country's five-year civil war has left hundreds of thousands of people dead, four million forced from their homes and over six million people severely hungry.