Former South Sudan political prisoners agree to work with president Kiir

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said former South Sudanese political detainers inked a deal on Friday evening in Nairobi with President Salva Kiir that could shore up peace process in the world's youngest nation.

Kenyatta, who chaired the meeting, said the deal is in line with the Arusha agreement in which the three factions of the Sudan People's Liberations Movement (SPLM) agreed on the unification of the liberating party.

"The Nairobi deal means that the search for peace is edging closer to fruition," Kenyatta said in a statement received on Saturday, expressing optimism that the deal could accelerate the South Sudan peace process.

In the Arusha agreement in January this year, delegates from three factions of the SPLM signed a 12-page agreement that laid down key steps toward reunifying the party. The agreement was signed by the faction loyal to President Kiir, the SPLM-in- Opposition led by former vice president Riek Machar and a third faction made up of former political detainees.

The political leaders, who were detained shortly after unrest erupted in Juba on December 15, 2013, were released in January 2014 following intervention from Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and handed over to the custody of the authorities in Kenya.

Kiir has said the clashes in Juba in 2013 that triggered violence across the country were an attempt to oust him led by former vice president Riek Machar, who went into hiding when the unrest broke out. The ex-detainees and Machar have denied any involvement in what Kiir has insisted was a failed coup bid.

The statement said President Kenyatta convened the meeting in his capacity as the rapporteur of IGAD and attended by foreign ministers of Kenya and South Sudan.

Kenyatta emphasized that it was important for the leaders of South Sudan to seize the opportunity to seek a comprehensive agreement and move closer to sustainable peace.

The latest deal comes hours after the 16th Summit of the East African Community Heads of State that was also attended by President Kiir.

During the summit, the East African leaders also called for a permanent ceasefire in South Sudan and urged the leadership to honour the agreements which have been reached and signed.

Kenyatta said while neighbouring states continue to support peace-building in South Sudan, the parties involved in the conflict must remember that they hold the key to stabilising their country.

He said the progress made so far strongly points to the possibility of a lasting settlement and a return to the agenda of South Sudanese progress and self-determination. Enditem