Delegations of the government of the Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudan Democratic Movement (Cobra Faction) of Gen. David Yau Yau signed a draft agreement on Saturday in Addis Ababa.

Head of the government delegation, Canon Clement Janda and leader of the delegation of SSDM (Cobra Faction) signed the draft agreement, which was mediated by the Church Leaders Mediation Initiative.

Chairperson of the mediation team, Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban that the preliminary deal will come into effect after it is endorsed by the opposition leader David Yau Yau and government leaders in Juba.

Key Points:

• The Murie tribe in Greater Pibor will have special administrative status
• A territory will be called Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA)
• The special administration will have six counties
• People will be in charge of their resources, such as water and pasture
• GPAA will be led by a Chief Administrator with status equal to a State Governor
• A special development fund for Greater Pibor is to be established by the President and overseen by a body to be set up in the Office of the President
• Increased Murle representation in the South Sudan Legislation
• Assembly
• Granting of some positions to members of the Cobra Faction and other citizens of the area in the Government as Presidential advisors, ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors and other titles in the central government.

The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed between the two parties on 30th of January 2014 will be in force until the GPAA is officially in place.

Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban called on the parties to continue to work in the spirit of give and take to resolve some pending issues.

The mediators appealed to parties involved in the bigger South Sudan conflict not to use David Yau Yau’s forces for violence. They urged African countries and the international community at large to help stop the bloodshed in the country.