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Southern Sudanese Govt Signs ‘Rome Declaration’ With Alliance of Opposition Factions

Southern Sudanese Govt Signs ‘Rome Declaration’ With Alliance of Opposition Factions
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Southern Sudanese Govt Signs ‘Rome Declaration’ With Alliance of Opposition Factions

Southern Sudanese Govt Signs ‘Rome Declaration’ With Alliance of Opposition Factions

An alliance of opposition factions signed on Monday a peace agreement with South Sudanese government to stop the hostilities and continue the political dialogue in order to participate in the ongoing peace process in the country.

The Rome Declaration on the Peace Process in South Sudan was signed in Rome between the government and South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA).

The SSOMA is an opposition coalition that refused to sign the 2018 peace agreement.

Talks were organized by the Roman Catholic Sant’ Egidio peace group and in presence of the SPLM/A-10 and NDM and the IGAD.

Signatories of the agreement reaffirmed their desire to promote political dialogue in order to facilitate reconciliation and achieve stability by addressing what they called "the root causes of the conflict in South Sudan."

It was signed by Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who headed the government delegation, leaders of the opposition alliance including Thomas Cirillo Swaka, Paul Malong Awan Anei, and Pagan Amum Okiech as well as the leaders of the three other groups.

They stressed they “are now convinced that the current conflict in the country requires comprehensive political participation in order to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace with non-signatories of the peace agreement.”

“We have agreed that the dialogue would continue under the auspices of the Catholic Church in consultation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in East Africa (IGAD) and with the support of regional organizations and the international community,” they added.

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Israel Launches 1st Airstrike on Lebanon Since Ceasefire

This aerial view taken a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold shows traffic driving past destroyed buildings in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on November 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
This aerial view taken a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold shows traffic driving past destroyed buildings in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on November 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Israel Launches 1st Airstrike on Lebanon Since Ceasefire

This aerial view taken a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold shows traffic driving past destroyed buildings in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on November 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
This aerial view taken a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold shows traffic driving past destroyed buildings in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on November 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

The Israeli military on Thursday said its warplanes fired on southern Lebanon after detecting Hezbollah activity at a rocket storage facility, the first Israeli airstrike a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold.

There was no immediate word on casualties from Israel's aerial attack, The Associated Press reported.

The Israeli army said a warplane carried out an airstrike after "terrorist activity was detected at a Hezbollah facility containing medium-range rockets in south Lebanon."

"The IDF (Israeli army) is deployed in southern Lebanon, acting to thwart any violation of the ceasefire agreement," the Israeli military added.

The mayor of the town of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon, Nazih Eid, told AFP that a warplane launched a raid "on the eastern edge of the town of Baysariyeh. They targeted a forested area not accessible to civilians."

The aerial attack came hours after the Israeli military said it fired on people trying to return to certain areas in southern Lebanon. Israel said they were violating the ceasefire agreement, without providing details. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said two people were wounded.

The back-to-back incidents stirred unease about the agreement, brokered by the United States and France, which includes an initial two-month ceasefire in which Hezbollah militants are to withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border. The buffer zone would be patrolled by Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers.

On Thursday, the second day of a ceasefire after more than a year of bloody conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon's state news agency reported that Israeli fire targeted civilians in Markaba, close to the border, without providing further details. Israel said it fired artillery in three other locations near the border. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said in a statement that “several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire.” It said troops “opened fire toward them” and would “actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement.”

Israeli officials have said forces will be withdrawn gradually as it ensures that the agreement is being enforced. Israel has warned people not to return to areas where troops are deployed, and says it reserves the right to strike Hezbollah if it violates the terms of the truce.

A Lebanese military official said Lebanese troops would gradually deploy in the south as Israeli troops withdraw.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Thursday it was ending some protective restrictions that had limited the size of gatherings in parts of central and northern Israel.

The change was made following a situational assessment, the military said.