South Sudan: UN urges formation of transition gov't

by Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on South Sudanese leaders to form a transition government of national unity to put an end to two years of conflict.

“I was moved by people affected by this senseless conflict,” Ban said in a press briefing in Juba before leaving the country after a one-day visit.

The hope which the county had at independence in 2011 “has been betrayed by those who put power over people’s interest”, he added.

Ban said South Sudanese leaders had to put the interests of their people above their own political ambition if lasting peace was to be achieved in the country.

“The hope of the people of South Sudan has been betrayed by the people who put power above people’s interest,” he said.

The UN will allocate $21 million for people of South Sudan to “provide relief and protection when needed most”, Ban said -- "a paltry figure” he admitted, urging donors to respond to the south Sudan situation.

“All warring parties in the country should remove all restrictions on humanitarian convoys,” he said.

His trip comes about a week after clashes at a UN camp in the country’s northeast left at least 18 people dead and sent thousands fleeing for their lives.

Ban visited Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this week.

South Sudan was thrown into crisis in 2013 when Kiir accused his ex-vice president Machar of trying to overthrow his government.

To date, it has been reported that more than 10,000 people have been killed and more than 2.4 million displaced from their homes.

Both sides in the conflict have been accused of widespread ethnic massacres, rape and recruitment of thousands of child soldiers.