Pro-government civil society groups rallied in Kuacjok the capital of President Salva Kiir's home state Warrap on Thursday urging the government not to sign the 'compromise peace deal' proposed by IGAD mediators and instead to reject it.

The rally comes shortly ahead of the 17 August deadline set by peace mediators and just before Kiir was scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa to negotiate with his counterpart Riek Machar.

The protesters urged the government delegation not to sign a deal with Riek Machar. School authorities in the state capital organized to ensure that pupils showed up to the rally.

Speaking on Thursday at the rally near the State Assembly, the state chairman of civil society rejected and condemned the IGAD proposal.