This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
On December 17, 2019, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir announced that a deal had been reached with former rebel leader Riek Machar to form a transitional unity government, even if all differences were not resolved before a new deadline.
The agreement was reached after three days of talks between Kiir and Machar in the capital Juba, and comes despite the two leaders pushing back the deadline by 100 days.
According to Kiir, the government of national unity will be formed, and if the arrangements are not complete, a transitional government of national unity will be implemented to address outstanding issues.
Both sides have blamed each other for not meeting milestones stipulated by the peace deal, particularly the integration of different fighting forces.
The United States had imposed sanctions on two senior South Sudanese officials for their role in perpetuating the conflict, and had warned that it was ready to impose other measures on anyone seeking to derail the peace process.
