December 23rd, 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – Thousands of people have gathered at the Bentiu stadium this afternoon to celebrate the revitalized peace deal and to welcome opposition governor of Liech state Brig. Gen. Tor Tungwar who left the state capital following the outbreak of war in December 2013.
Several eyewitnesses confirmed to the Nyamilepedia the arrival of the top opposition official.
Yesterday, a team led by the SPLA-IO Division Four A Commander John Turuk Khor arrived in the capital as a part of an advance team to prepare for the arrival of the governor.
“Our coming to Bentiu today affirms to the world and the people of South Sudan are for peace. We come to implement the peace signed by our two leaders so that people in the UNMISS can return home,” Brig. Gen. Tor Tungwar told the gathering.
For his part, the Northern Liech state governor for the government Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wijang further said they welcome the return of the opposition officials and said there is really a feeling that peace has come.
Under regional and international pressure, South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny signed a peace deal in September in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to end the war.
The agreement in Addis Ababa followed months of intense negotiations among delegates of the government and opposition who must, by the time, sign a pact or face international or further regional isolation.
The government in late October conducted a peace celebration ceremony in the capital Juba and was attended by regional leaders as well as the SPLM-IO leader Dr. Machar.
