The president of South Sudan told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday that he intends to sign a peace accord meant to end the civil war in that country, the state department said on Wednesday.
On Monday, President Salva Kiir initialled part of the power-sharing deal, but said he would wait until early September before finalizing it.
Washington criticized Kiir at the time for what it called a failure of leadership in acting to end the two-year war between government forces and rebels that has killed tens of thousands in the world’s youngest country.
Kiir told Kerry that he had some concerns that had now been addressed, Kirby added.
On Monday, Kiir refused to sign the deal brokered by regional leaders to end the conflict, which broke out in December 2013 when a political row between Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar spiraled into clashes.
Washington said on Tuesday it was consulting with other countries about imposing United Nations sanctions against South Sudan leaders who undermined the peace process.
“It is the actions of signing that matters rather than the pledge to do so,” Kirby added.The US has submitted draft proposals for a UN arms embargo on South Sudan.
The UN Security Council blacklisted six generals – three from each side – in July, but member states were at the time unwilling to impose further sanctions.
Fighting between government and rebel forces resumed following Mr Kiir’s failure to endorse the deal on Monday.
Nearly two million people have been left homeless since conflict broke out in the world’s newest state in 2013.Fighting erupted in that year after Mr Kiir accused rebel leader Riek Machar, his former deputy, of plotting a coup.
Mr Machar signed the accord in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday – the deadline set by mediators.
