JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s government has allocated $40 million to speed up the integration of its soldiers with armed opposition fighters to create a unified national army as the country emerges from a five-year civil war. This comes amid face-to-face talks between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar in the capital, Juba. Their talks continue Saturday on another key part of a peace deal that is yet to be resolved, the number of states. South Sudan’s government had pledged $100 million to help fund the peace process, and the $40 million is part of that. The international community has been pressing the rival sides to form a coalition government as a crucial part of the peace deal signed last year.

Source: International New York Times December 13, 2019 15:56 UTC