Peace agreement in South Sudan imminent

JUBA , South Sudan, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- A peace agreement in south Sudan to end 20 months of civil war is imminent, South Sudan's foreign minister said Wednesday.

Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that despite his government's reservations about the pact, an agreement with rebel leader Riek Machar will likely be signed at a meeting of regional bloc leaders, convening Wednesday in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Machar has already signed the agreement, which awaits President Salva Kiir's signature. It calls for a demilitarization of Juba and greater power to rebels in the oil-rich Upper Nile part of their country. "There is no country in the whole world that can remove its national army from the national capital, which is the seat of the sovereignty of that country, because the national government has got the responsibility to protect the citizens of that country," said Benjamin.

The long war has prompted the United Nations to act if Kiir declines to sign the deal, and the African Union has threatened an arms embargo against South Sudan if progress is not seen. Benjamin acknowledged the international community, including the United States, is exerting pressure on Kiir to sign.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour met with White House and U.S. State Dept. officials in Washington in February, and Donald Booth, U.S. Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, visited the region for talks this week.

"There's lots of pressure, including pressure from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and everybody. But, we are telling them that, 'Yes, we will be able to sign, but give us time to consult with our constituency,'" Benjamin said.