U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expected South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and sacked vice president Riek Machar to meet in Addis Ababa as early as May 9, going on to warn of a possible famine if the fighting continued.
"President Kiir said he was invited to be there [Addis Ababa] by the Ethiopian premier by May 9 and he said he will be in time," Ban told a press conference in Juba.
At one point, the U.N. chief – who earlier in the press conference had said he had been unable to reach Machar by phone on Tuesday – left the room briefly.
"I just talked to Machar right now," Ban told reporters upon his return. "He said he is in a very remote area and will try to be in Ethiopia in time."
The Addis Ababa meeting will be the first between Kiir and Machar since the ongoing conflict erupted last December after Kiir accused his sacked vice president of leading a failed coup attempt against his regime.
"My message to the political leaders is simple: work together for peace," Ban asserted.
"The country's leaders must quickly address root causes of the crisis," he added, stressing the importance of "accountability" in ending the fighting.
"Both political sides must put aside differences and work for reconciliation immediately," the U.N. chief said, adding that the global body and its regional partners were working together to achieve peace in South Sudan.
Ban went on to warn that continued conflict in the world's youngest country could have a serious humanitarian impact.
"Half a million could face famine in less than a month if the fighting is not stopped," he said, noting that a U.N. report documenting human rights violations in the country will be released this week.
“But what is more important is that a quick solution to the crisis should be found quickly," he said. "The two leaders must sit down as soon as possible. What is important now is for the two leaders to sit and bring peace back to this country,” he added.
When asked about his stance on sanctions considered by some world powers on figures from the troubled country in connection with the conflict, Ban said: "we cannot stop the individual countries from imposing their sanctions, but in the [U.N.] Security Council, what we want is peace."
The conflict has already claimed more than 10,000 lives, with the U.N. estimating that some one million South Sudanese have been displaced by the violence.
By Okech Francis
englishnews@aa.com.tr
