South Sudan’s Machar Refuses To Sign Latest Peace Deal

South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar refused to sign the latest draft of a peace deal with the Juba government  that would end a years-long conflict, Sudan’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

“The main opposition party, led by Machar, as well as another group, refused to sign, demanding guarantees over their reservations” about the deal, Al-Dirdiri Mohamed told reporters in Khartoum.

Sudan has helped broker talks between the rebels and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir which appeared to achieve a breakthrough in recent months, with the sides signing up to a ceasefire on August 5.

Previous peace agreements have held for only a matter of months before fighting resumed, which Kiir has blamed on foreign influence.