South Sudan’s two rival leaders have reportedly met face-to-face in Addis Ababa for the first time since mass violence broke out in December.
According to the Reuters news agency, President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar, shook hands after meeting in the Ethiopian capital on Friday.
The US ambassador to South Sudan said she doubted the two could immediately reach an accord.
The talks between Kiir and Machar were expected to last one day, the AP news agency reported.
“I don’t believe that they will meet and reach an agreement straight away. But if they can agree on a broad-based process on how to resolve the conflict, end the fighting, that would be a step forward,” Susan Page, the US ambassador to South Sudan, said during a radio call-in show.
“People want peace. People don’t understand why the country should go into war just less than three years since independence.”
The leaders’ talks should include an outline for an inclusive transitional government, Borge Brende, Norwegian foreign minister, said in an interview.
Norway is involved in trying to find a diplomatic solution to South Sudan’s conflict.
“Otherwise, there will be consequences that will follow. We will increase our pressure on the parties. Even tougher measures will follow in the coming weeks if there is no political will to solve the crisis,” Brende said.
The US announced sanctions this week against two men involved in the fighting in South Sudan, one loyal to Kiir and one loyal to Machar.
The move appears to be a warning to the leaders that more far-reaching sanctions are being considered.
Michael Lueth, South Sudan information minister, said on Wednesday that his government’s priority is to first stop the violence. Later talks could be held about a transitional charter, he said.
Brende said Norway will host a donor conference on May 20 to assist with humanitarian needs in South Sudan. [AlJazeera]
It saddens my heart to know that despite the thing that our fathers, Mothers, brothers and sister are passing through in this country especially in the North all in the name of boko haram we still pretend as if all is well. We go about are daily activities as if nothing has happen. The government keeps on playing this so called politics as a game. Innocent men, women and children are being killed everyday and we do nothing about it. How many of us pray for peace for 2 rain in this country? Over 300 school girls between d age of 14 to 17 kidnapped from their schools. We keep on listening nd preaching “love one another as U love yourself” now imagine if it were 2 be U or your sister. How would U feel? What will U do. Now don’t tell me that go about as if nothing has happen because the truth is U won’t. We have lost our dignity and humanity by misplacing our priorities. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, let’s support THE BRING BACK OUR GIRLS CAMPAIGN. leave a comment or leave like d page