In a听statement听issued by his spokesperson, the UN chief commended the parties for the 鈥渟ignificant achievement in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan鈥�.
鈥淭he Secretary-General applauds regional and international efforts that contributed to this result鈥�, the statement continued.听
Mr. Guterres also called on the TGoNU members to 鈥渇ully adhere to the letter and spirit of the Agreement鈥�, so that the people of South Sudan can finally realize the benefits of durable peace and stability they deserve.听
鈥淭he 51吃瓜 stands ready, in close coordination with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the African Union, to assist the parties in implementing the Agreement鈥�, the statement concluded.
鈥楥ourage in peace鈥�
Saturday's ceremony took place just before the peace agreement deadline expired.
UN Special Representative David Shearer听it 鈥渁 thrill鈥� to witness the signing in of Vice President Riek Machar and hailed it as 鈥渁 new chapter in South Sudan鈥檚 history鈥�.听
Noting that 鈥渙ften the courage in peace is greater than the courage in war鈥�, Mr. Shearer, who also heads the UN Mission in South Sudan (), acknowledged the courage of both President Salva Kiir 鈥渇or taking the decisions that he needed to take鈥� and Mr. Machar 鈥渇or coming back after conflict鈥� and joining to make the Unity Government possible.
鈥淚 believe that after this signing and the forming of a transitional government we will see floods of people returning to their homes, picking up their lives鈥� and getting on with hope for what the future holds, he said.
Sealing the deal
South Sudan, the world鈥檚 youngest nation, has been mired in instability and conflict for nearly all eight years of its existence.
In 2018 President Kiir and his former Vice-President and long-time political rival, Mr. Machar, signed a peace accord with the hopes that it would end the crisis and improve the lives and safety of millions of South Sudanese.
On Saturday, President Kiir witnessed Mr. Machar being sworn in as first vice-president, sealing the peace deal at the State House in the capital of Juba.
Hopes are high that the new Unity Government will bring an end to the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions more.
On 23 February, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol was appointed as the fifth Vice President of the new Transitional Government of National Unity.
