Uganda wants South Sudanese refugees to return home after their rival leades signed a peace deal to end years of fighting.
President Yoweri Museveni says he hopes the one million South Sudanese refugees would have no fears of returning home.
Last Sunday the peace deal that hopefully will bring an eventual end to the civil war was signed.
The government and opposition rivals were present to sign the deal.
The president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir was joined by the country’s main rebel group leader Riek Machar to sign the deal in Sudan.
Thousands of people have died in the 2013 civil war after troops loyal to the rebel leader Machar clashed with government troops. Millions have been displaced internally and externally.
President Museveni in a statement said “We hope that with the UN support in regards to food and basic essentials, the refugees could return home by January and take advantage of the rains… to grow some food”.
Uganda is home to many refugees in Africa. Most of these refugees come from South Sudan.
New deal
The new deal signed recently will provide for five vice presidents for South Sudan and protect a power sharing arrangement.
Per the deal former Vice-President Riek Machar is expected to return to his former position.
The transitional government would govern for three years. The most recent deal was signed in 2015 but it did not help to end the conflict.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Wednesday granted a general amnesty to the country’s rebels.
Granting amnesty to these rebels including Riek Machar is seen as a major step towards ending the civil war.
The amnesty order was read out on state-run television late on Wednesday.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 from north Sudan but fighting broke out two years later.
Source: Africafeeds.com
