Peace Agreement in South Sudan

Nonviolent Peaceforce - Peace Watch - 29 August 2015 - Country Director in South Sudan, Tiffany Easthom, gives her statement on this week's signing of the peace agreement in Juba, South Sudan. "This  week, the final signature was placed onto the South Sudan peace agreement. In doing so, all parties to the conflict have indicated their intentions to end the violent conflict that has rocked South Sudan for the past 21 months. 

While the signing of the agreement is not a guarantee of peace, it is a public declaration of constructive, peaceful and positive intentions to end the war. Having been on the front line of the conflict since the first day, the Nonviolent Peaceforce team is greatly relieved at the signing of the agreement and we want to extend our appreciation and support to the parties as they move into this new phase. We look forward to seeing strong, people centred leadership and action to move into the implementation of this agreement starting with an urgent and immediate cessation of hostilities.  Getting to peace is as complicated if not more so than getting to war.  The road ahead will be a long one that will take the dedication of all South Sudanese and the support of the international community to engage in reconciliation, justice and reconstruction.  The people of South Sudan deserve real peace and the opportunity to build the country that was so long struggled for. The Nonviolent Peaceforce team is committed to supporting our South Sudanese brothers and sisters in working for peace."