Turkey welcomes South Sudan peace agreement

By Tevfik Durul

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey welcomed the power-sharing deal, which was signed between the government and opposition parties of South Sudan late Monday.

The Foreign Ministry said on its website that Turkey welcomed the conclusion of the ongoing negotiation process between the government and the opposition parties to end the civil war in South Sudan, with the signature of the power-sharing agreement in Khartoum.

On Sunday, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar and other political party representatives signed the peace agreement.

South Sudan's civil war broke out in December 2013, just two years after the country won independence from Sudan, and has continued despite repeated attempts at peace deals.

Tens of thousands of people have died and millions have fled to create the world’s third largest refugee crisis.

More than 2 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries and 6 million others still in the country are at the risk of famine, as the warring sides are blamed for obstructing desperately needed aid.