South Sudan rivals to share power in new deal

South Sudan’s warring parties agreed on Thursday to share ministerial positions in a transitional government of national unity, the chair of the body monitoring a peace deal said.

President Salva Kiir and his rival, former vice president Riek Machar, signed an accord last August to end fighting that killed thousands of people and drove more than 2 million people from their homes.

The deal stated that a transitional government would be created for a period of 30 months followed by an election.

Festus Mogae, the chair of the monitoring commision said Kiir’s government will nominate 16 ministers, including the ministers for finance, defence and justice.

Smaller parties will get four slots including the foreign affairs portfolio and the Cabinet Affairs Ministry, Mogae said in a statement.