21/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU hails step towards peace agreement. The partial peace agreement for South Sudan signed in Addis Ababa on 17 August by the rebels of the SPLM/AiO (Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition) has been hailed by the EU as an encouraging step towards peace. This is “a step closer in achieving a final peace agreement”, said the spokespersons for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica. “The government of the Republic of South Sudan decided not to sign but initialled the agreement. We look forward to the government of South Sudan moving forward to sign a final agreement”, they added. The EU paid tribute to the vital role played in this progress by the mediation of the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). (AN)