Igad Extends S. Sudan Peacemaking Deadline

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Thursday extended for one more day a deadline for South Sudan's warring rivals to reach a peace deal.



IGAD chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin said at a press briefing that IGAD – which has been mediating peace talks between the two rivals – extended the deadline after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar failed to meet a March 5 deadline for reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.



"There are still areas in which the two sides are far apart," Mesfin said.



IGAD has been mediating peace talks between Kiir and Machar months now.



The fledgling state descended into violence in late 2013 after Kiir accused Machar, his sacked vice president, of plotting a coup against his government.



The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and caused the displacement of millions of South Sudanese nationals.



Mesfin said IGAD envoys held separate talks in Addis Ababa on Thursday with the South Sudanese President and the rebel leader.



"Mediation envoys have spent quite some time with the principals, separately consulting on the issues they still have to bridge to close the gap that exists between the two parties," Mesfin said.



"We met with President Kiir in the morning hours and we met Machar this afternoon," he added.



Last month, Kiir and Machar agreed to hammer out a comprehensive peace deal by March 5, to be followed in July by the formation of a transitional unity government.



On Tuesday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution creating a framework for imposing sanctions on anyone found to be hindering peace efforts in South Sudan.



Nevertheless, Mesfin said the formation of parliament, security arrangements, the formation of the transitional government and setting a date for power-sharing were still sticky issues in the talks between the South Sudanese rivals.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa