AFP: South Sudan’s leader Salva Kiir urged unity on the anniversary of the independence of the conflict riven young nation, saying there had been progress on a long-delayed peace agreement.
The world’s newest country is still plagued by violence and political infighting since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011.
A peace agreement six years ago ended a 2013-2018 civil war between Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, but key provisions are still unfulfilled and transition timelines repeatedly delayed.
Kiir said the country must honour those who had lost their lives for independence by coming together, to “learn from our mistakes and join hands to rebuild South Sudan.”
He described the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement as a “difficult journey”, but said “most of the critical outstanding issues have been implemented,” in a statement issued late Tuesday.