South Sudan's President Salva Kiir signed a peace deal with main rebel leader Riek Machar on Wednesday, formally ending a five-year war that has killed tens of thousands. Government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told The Associated Press that Kiir, Machar and other opposition parties signed the "final final" deal. Wednesday's agreement was met with cautious optimism by David Shearer, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. We must seize this broader regional momentum to secure peace for the people of South Sudan," they said in a statement. The warring parties have held weeks of talks in Khartoum in search of a comprehensive peace deal to end the conflict.

Source: Ethiopian News September 12, 2018 19:52 UTC