UN gives South Sudan president until Sept 1 to lift peace deal reservations

The UN Security Council on Wednesday gave South Sudan President Salva Kiir until September 1 to get fully behind a peace deal after he signed the accord with reservations.

"The deadline for him is September 1," said Nigerian Ambassador Joy Ogwu, who chairs the council this month.

"He has room to play," she told reporters.

Kiir signed the peace accord to end 20 months of brutal war at a ceremony in Juba, but he annexed a list of reservations that would have to be addressed for the agreement to take hold.

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South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (L) shakes hands with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (R) after signing a peace agreement in Juba, on August 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/ CHARLES LOMODONG

"The current peace we are signing today has so many things we have to reject," Kiir said at the ceremony attended by leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.

"Such reservations, if ignored, would not be in the interests of just and lasting peace," he said.

The 15-member council had threatened on the eve of the signing to take "immediate action" if Kiir failed to sign, or signed with reservations.

But the Nigerian envoy made clear that the council would not move until Tuesday. 

"He has until September 1," said Ogwu. "We'll wait."

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South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (C) signs a peace agreement as Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (back left), Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (back 2nd left) and Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (back centre) look on in Juba, on August 26, 2015.- AFP PHOTO/ CHARLES LOMODONG

Rebel leader Reik Machar already signed the deal on August 17, but at the time, Kiir only initialled part of the text and was given until September 1 to return to the table to fully accept the accord.

The United States has circulated a draft resolution that would impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on those who undermine peace efforts in South Sudan.

South Sudan's civil war erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of planning a coup, unleashing a wave of killings that has split the country along ethnic lines.

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UN gives South Sudan president until Sept 1 to lift peace deal reservations