EVENT SUMMARY
On Thursday 11th February 2016, South Sudan President Salva Kiir appointed rebel leader Riek Machar as his first vice president in an effort to quell crisis that has been witnessed in the country for many years.
Kiir appointment of Machar is in line peace deal signed last year, official South Sudan TV reported.
In the new appointed and according to president decree, the incumbent vice president James Wani Igga assumes the post of the second vice president.
The peace deal signed by South Sudan warring parties in August 2015, was aimed at ending years of violence in South Sudan.
The peace deal gives grants the current government a legislation majority, the presidency and 53 percent of all ministerial portfolios.
The first vice president (now Riek Machar) will get 33 percent of ministerial portfolios while the remaining 14 percent to be shared by opposition groups.
The peace agreement, however, faced another hitch when President Kiir in October 2015 decided to re-divide South Sudan into 28 states instead of the current 10 states.
The rebel group, led by Machar, refused formation of a transitional government stipulated in the deal, in protest against the division.
South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013, when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors aligned to his former deputy Riek Machar.
