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New S. Sudan Peace Deal Signed


FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (L) is seen shaking hands with rebel leader Riek Machar (R) following a previous round of peace talks.
FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (L) is seen shaking hands with rebel leader Riek Machar (R) following a previous round of peace talks.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar have signed a new peace deal, committing themselves to ending an internal conflict that has been crippling the African country for more than a year now.

The cease-fire agreement was signed Monday at talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the help of mediators from the East African bloc IGAD.

None of the parties revealed any information about the deal but said the two sides will meet again starting February 20 to iron out the details. The two sides have previously signed at least three peace deals which were quickly broken.

Fighting, which erupted in December 2013, has killed more than 10,000 people and driven about 1.5 million others from their homes in the oil-producing nation.

IGAD mediator Seyoum Mesfin said anyone who breaks this latest agreement will be reported to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union.

Both organizations have threatened sanctions against those undermining peace in South Sudan, the world's newest country.

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