South Sudan presidency term extended by 3 years

Lawmakers in South Sudan on Tuesday voted to extend the tenure of President Salva Kiir by three years, a move the government had said was necessary for stability amid an ongoing rebellion led by a former deputy president.
The measure, passed by more than two-thirds of the legislators on Tuesday, also extends the tenure of the legislature, lawmaker Thomas Kundu, who heads parliament’s information committee, told The Associated Press. He said the measure was necessary for peace and stability amid a violent rebellion led by Kiir’s former deputy, Riek Machar.
“We believe these three years will give a chance for peace so that all of us prepare to conduct a census and after which we can conduct free and fair elections,” Kundu said.
Peace talks between Kiir and Machar have repeatedly failed.
South Sudan has seen sporadic fighting since December 2013 as government forces loyal to Kiir, a member of the dominant Dinka ethnic group, try to put down rebels led by Machar, who is of Nuer ethnicity. The fighting has often been along ethnic lines.