South Sudan Unity Deal Extended

South Sudan has been granted a six-month extension to a unity government deal that was expected to come into force this month.

South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar maintains that he is unable to return to Juba to take up his former position as vice president in a power-sharing government as required by the peace deal signed by the President and Machar in September 2018.

Machar was fired from the position in 2013. Following his dismissal fighting broke out in which an estimated 400,000 lost their lives and more than four million are thought to have been displaced. 

The power-sharing deal was due to commence on May 12. However, International Crisis Group had warned that the deal may collapse, with Machar claiming that security concerns have prevented his return. Machar left Juba in 2016 following clashes between his troops and the government.

The extension was requested by President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar, the leaders of the opposing sides, after it became clear that the terms could not be met by the stated deadline. The approval of the request was announced by the Government of Ethiopia.