Archbishop Lukudu Loro of Juba urges the parties to South Sudan’s conflict to sign a peace deal

The churches of South Sudan have given their full backing to the latest peace proposal by the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to end the on-going war in the country. The IGAD-Plus peace proposal as it is known, should be signed not later than the 17 of August between President Salva Kirr and rebel leader Reik Machar.

Speaking at the opening of a four-day meeting of Catholic bishops in South Sudan’s capital on Tuesday, the Archbishop of Juba, Paulino Lukudu Loro urged the warring parties to sign the deal.

Archbishop Loro said the IGAD-Plus peace proposal is “not perfect” but that it is “better than dragging on with the war” which broke out in mid-December 2013.

The plan allows the government of President Kiir, 53% of the executive at a national level and 33% to Mr. Machar’s group, while other political parties are given the remaining 7%. However, in the proposal, the rebels will control 53% of the local governments of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States . President Kiir recently indicated that he will not sign the document in its current form. But Archbishop Loro said there must be compromise from all sides to end the conflict.