Kiir directs for immediate implementation of deal with Kitgwang generals

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed for the immediate implementation of the Khartoum Agreement his government signed with leaders of the breakaway SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang faction saying he welcomes the deal.

The agreement, which is seen as a ‘defection agreement’ by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, was signed in Khartoum last week and paves way for the integration of the opposition faction’s forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

In a meeting with the government delegation which negotiated the agreement, Kiir said he welcomes the agreement and directed the concerned institutions to kick start the immediate implementation of the agreement.

“President Salva Kiir Mayardit met in his Office with the Government’s delegation, which signed Khartoum Peace Agreement between the SPLM-IG and Agwelek forces of the SPLM/A-IO splinter group,” South Sudan presidency said in a statement on Monday.

“During the meeting, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit told the delegation that he welcomes the Khartoum Peace Agreement between the SPLM-IG and Agwelek Forces and urged for an immediate implementation of the Agreement,” the statement added.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Jokino Fidel , a member of the delegation said, they are “thankful that H.E. the President accepted the agreement” and “assured” them “that it will be implemented fully as agreed in Khartoum.”

Fidel added that “they are going to speed-up the process of the implementation of the Khartoum Peace Agreement between the SPLM-IG and Agwelek Forces immediately.”