The government of South Sudan will sign a ceasefire agreement with the rebel group of David Yau Yau in Addis Ababa this afternoon.
The rebels recruited from the Murle tribe in Jonglei have formed the South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM). They fought the government since long before the latest crisis began, based in Pibor County and raiding in to neighboring areas.
The deal comes after the government announced earlier this month a unilateral ceasefire. The ceasefire will be monitored by church organizations and UNMISS, government chief negotiator Clement Janda announced to the media today.
“The signature confirms the earlier agreement of 7 January. We will continue to discuss the main economic issues that caused the problem between this group and the government,” Janda said.
“We hope and are confident that this time the agreement will be implemented. It will bring a big change for the people in Pibor County. This is a serious agreement,” he said.
The Murle rebel leader Yau Yau have announced that they will continue with the negotiations towards a comprehensive peace, in which they demand their own state. The newly formed state would split the Murle, Anuak, Jie and Kachipo ethnic groups from the Dinka and Nuer groups in the north and west of Jonglei.
Courtesy photo: Rebel leader David Yau Yau, shown here at an undisclosed location in Jonglei state, has reached a truce deal with the government