South Sudan President reluctantly signs a peace treaty with rebels

Both sides threatened with consequences should they fight again

South Sudan President Salva Kiir reluctantly signs a peace deal with rebels.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Despite serious doubts, South Sudan President Kiir signed a peace treaty between the army and rebels led by Riek Machar.

Mechar previously signed the treaty in Ethiopia but Kiir's signature came nearly a week later, after Kiir claimed he needed more time. His decision to postpone the agreement quickly drew the condemnation from diplomats of neighboring countries who threatened to impose U.N. sanctions if Kiir did not sign.

Kiir claims the peace deal was imposed on him and is flawed, with certain aspects of the deal "not in the interest of just and lasting peace... We had only one of the two options, the option of an imposed peace or the option of continued war."

Despite his reservations, Kiir signed the deal that binds him in a power-sharing agreement with Machar and calls for the establishment of a coalition government within 90 days.

This is not the first attempt of peace between the two factions. However each cease-fire was short-lived with both sides accusing the other of truce violations.

In an attempt to promote an immediate and permanent peace between Kiir and Machar, the United States and its partners agree there will be consequences for whoever returns to arms.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest reports, "President Kiir made the right decision to sign the peace agreement today, but we should be just as clear that the United States and the international community does not recognize any reservations or addendums to that document."

He adds that each side should "work toward ending the conflict and rebuilding the country."

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni witnessed the signing, saying "You are fighting for the sovereignty of the people of South Sudan to make their own decisions. That cannot be realized in war. When you have war it is not the people who make decisions. It is the gunmen... Therefore you need to... remove the guns and give back power to the people."

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