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UN chief urges African Union to help end S Sudan deadlock

Monday, 25 January 2016 7:10 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 25 January 2016 7:11 PM ]

This file picture taken on August 26, 2014 shows South Sudanese soldiers securing a road near Juba against rebels attacks (AFP Poto)

The United Nations is calling on African Union states to help pull South Sudan's parties out of a deadlock in the country's peace process.

The UN secretary-general said African Union states should address South Sudan's failure to meet a Friday deadline to establish a transitional government of national unity.

Forming a transitional government is an "essential step" in implementing the peace deal between South Sudan's government and rebels, said Ban Ki-moon through his spokesman on Monday.

Ban advised both of South Sudan's warring sides to overcome their differences, asking African leaders to place the issue of South Sudan at the top of the agenda at the AU summit this week.

The UN chief said he would be present at this week’s AU summit.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges AU states to address the South Sudan issue in upcoming summit (AFP file photo)

The two warring sides in the South Sudan conflict are mired in a deadlock after President Salva Kiir issued a Christmas Eve decree dissolving the nation's original ten states, and creating 28 new ones, with newly appointed governors.

The country has been witnessing deadly violence since December 2013, when fighting broke out between soldiers loyal to Kiir and rebels led by former Vice President Riek Machar. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over two million others.

The warring sides reached an internationally-mediated peace deal on August 26 in neighboring Ethiopia.

The peace deal rests on the government's power-sharing with the rebels based on divisions in the original states.

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