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WORLD NEWS Thursday 1 November 2018

South Sudan opposition leader

returns as part of peace deal

By The Associated Press return marked the end of groups and the leaders of
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — the civil war and warned Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda,
For the first time since flee- the “prophets of doom” Somalia and Egypt.
ing South Sudan more than who were waiting for an- Under the new peace deal
two years ago, opposition other explosion in Juba signed on September 12,
leader Riek Machar re- that peace was here to Machar will once again
turned on Wednesday to stay. Addressing the South serve as a vice president in
take part in a nationwide Sudanese people directly, President Salva Kiir’s gov-
peace celebration. Kiir apologized for five years ernment. This will be the
“I came only to confirm to of brutal fighting and said third time the two men South Sudan’s opposition leader Riek Machar speaks at peace
people that I am for peace. the responsibility falls on will try to work together celebrations in the capital Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, Oct.
The past is gone. We have his shoulders. “I deeply re- since the country erupted 31, 2018.
opened a new chapter gret the psychological and into civil war in 2013. The Associated Press
for peace and unity, “ said emotional wounds inflicted last attempt failed when South Sudan into indepen- At least one South Sudan
Machar, speaking in both on you by this war,” he said. fighting broke out in the dence in 2011. Since the expert says Machar’s return
Arabic and English to sev- Kiir also announced that capital Juba in July 2016 deal was signed six weeks is a positive step toward
eral thousand at the event. the pardons of two oppo- and Machar escaped the ago it has been criticized peace. “This indicates
He assured South Sudan’s sition members who had country on foot. for slow implementation, South Sudanese leaders’
citizens that peace was been sentenced to death. Five years of fighting in missed deadlines and con- readiness to implement the
in the hearts of all mem- The two being pardoned South Sudan has crippled tinued cease-fire violations. agreement. That President
bers of the opposition and are William John Endly, the country, displacing While security concerns re- Kiir invited Dr. Riek (Machar)
those attending have seen a South African national millions and killing almost main surrounding Machar’s ahead of the implementa-
peace with their own eyes. and former adviser to Riek 400,000 people from vio- return, he has come back tion schedule and Dr. Riek
Machar promised to Machar who will be deport- lence and disease accord- to give confidence to the responding positively, in
strengthen government in- ed immediately and long- ing to a recent report. population and to put particular, offers reason to
stitutions, address corrup- time spokesman for Mach- The latest peace deal has more pressure on the gov- be hopeful. I think that this
tion and injustice and said ar, James Gatdet who will been met with skepticism ernment to implement the shows a genuine desire by
that the new government be released as well. by the international com- peace process, opposition the leaders to end the con-
would uphold accountabil- Also attending the peace munity, including the United spokesman Mabior Garang flict,” said Augustino Ting
ity. South Sudan President celebrations were South States, Norway and the UK, de Mabior told The Associ- Mayai, researcher at the
Salva Kiir said Machar’s Sudan’s other opposition the troika which ushered ated Press. Sudd Institute.q

Afghan army helicopter crashes, killing all 25 on board

By AMIR SHAH ter crashed around 9:10 Taliban spokesman Qari
Associated Press a.m., shortly after taking Yusuf Ahmadi claimed the
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — off from the mountainous insurgents had downed
An Afghan army helicop- Anar Dara district heading the helicopter but failed to
ter crashed Wednesday in toward the nearby Herat provide evidence. Defense
bad weather in the west- province. Ministry spokesman Ghafor
ern Farah province, killing On board were the Ahmad Jawed rejected
all 25 people on board, in- corps commander, Gen. the Taliban claim of respon-
cluding the deputy corps Naimudullah Khalil, and sibility as “totally wrong.”
commander of the western two members of the Farah Wednesday’s was the sec-
zone, a provincial spokes- provincial council, its chair- ond army helicopter crash
man said. man, Farid Bakhtawar, and in as many months in Far-
Security forces stand guard near the site of a suicide attack on
prison employees’ vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Mohammad Naser Mehri, Jamila Amini, one of only ah. In September, five crew
Oct. 31, 2018. spokesman for the Farah two women on the nine- members died when their
Associated Press governor, said the helicop- member council. helicopter crashed. q