South Sudan parties sign agreement on transitional security arrangement

South Sudan parties, including the government, the armed opposition and former detainees on Tuesday signed an agreement on transitional security arrangement in the country.

The agreement, which is an important move to implement permanent ceasefire, has come at the end of a 14-day meeting in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

The East African bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has been mediating the South Sudan peace process since the war erupted in the world's youngest nation in mid December 2013.

The agreement was signed among the government, the armed opposition (SPLM/SPLA in opposition/IO), and SPLM leaders (former detainees).

The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the IGAD Special Envoys in the presence of former president Festus Mogae of Botswana, who is also Chair of joint monitoring and evaluation commission (JMEC) of South Sudan peace agreement.

"This is the special day for the people of South Sudan. This is a day when we will start the real operationalization of the peace agreement in the Republic of South Sudan," said Michael Makuei, South Sudan's Information Minister.

The minister expressed the commitment of the South Sudan government to the implementation of the agreement.

Gen. Taban Deng, chief negotiator an SPLM/SPLA-IO delegation will go to Juba, capital of South Sudan later this month for the process.

John Luk Jok, representative of the former detainees in South Sudan, said the signing of the agreement is a historic movement and a great milestone to move toward the implementation of the peace agreement.

Hailing it very special day, Seyoum Mesfin, Chief IGAD Mediator, congratulated the leaders and people of South Sudan for signature.

"We are confident, by mid of the month, we will be inaugurating the solid progress achieved toward the implementation of the process in Jub," said Seyoum. Endit