South Sudan leaders reach key deal on control of states

South Sudan's main rivals on Wednesday sealed a deal on control of the country's 10 internal states, an issue seen as the biggest threat to peace since a unity government was formed in February.

President Salva Kiir and former rebel leader and now vice president Riek Machar, whose 2013 fallout sparked a civil war, had been at loggerheads over the allocation of states, especially those producing oil, the country's main earner.

Last week the governments of Britain, Norway and the United States issued a statement urging them to agree on the appointment of governments as violence soared in recent weeks in the "vacuum created by the lack of governance".

Minister in the Office of President Nhial Deng Nhial told journalists that Kiir's camp had been allocated six states, including the oil-rich Unity State and Central Equatoria, which includes the capital Juba.

Machar will take three states, including the largest oil-producing area, the Upper Nile state, while a third signatory to the peace deal, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, will take Jonglei state.

"With this development a fresh impetus has been given for the process for the implementation of the agreement," said Nhial.

"We are very hopeful that with this development, the road is now paved to further positive developments that we hope will be carried out expeditiously."

SS