South Sudan
Ethiopia says regional ministers have approved a six-month extension of the looming deadline for South Sudan’s rival leaders to form a unity government.
Ethiopia’s government announced the approval in a Facebook post on Wednesday after a meeting of the council of East African ministers.
South Sudan had faced a May 12 deadline for opposition leader Riek Machar to return to the country and once again become President Salva Kiir’s deputy.
It is the crucial next step in a fragile peace deal to end a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people.
Both South Sudan’s government and Machar’s opposition requested the six-month extension last week.
The committee overseeing the peace deal’s implementation says key elements have yet to be put in place.
PHOTOS: Pope Francis kneels to kiss feet of South Sudan leaders at the end of a two day Spiritual retreat with them at the Vatican. Also in attendance was Justin Welby,
Archbishop of Canterbury.
????⛪️?️ pic.twitter.com/I0eWou0JNL— africanews (@africanews) April 11, 2019
AP
00:59
Donors pledge $630 million for conflict-hit Ethiopia
Go to video
Hellen Obiri claims back-to-back Boston Marathon titles, leading Kenyan women's podium sweep
00:45
Togo: Analyst weighs in on what to expect in upcoming legislative elections
01:04
Kenya proposes treaty to ease Somalia-Ethiopia tensions
01:13
Sex offender register in the works in Ethiopia
Go to video
Togo bans protests against arrest of opposition activists, constitutional reform