S. Africa's Zuma urges calm in South Sudan

December 23, 2014 (JUBA) - South African leader, Jacob Zuma urged South Sudan’s warring parties to end hostilities and give peace, mediated by East African regional bloc (IGAD), a chance.

Salva Kiir and President Zuma of SA, (Thomas Kenneth)

Zuma made this remarks on Monday after a meeting with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni at state house in Entebbe, Uganda.

“Conflict delays progress and development, it also affect innocent people. We are pleading with the parties that we need to be ready to compromise for the sake of the people of South Sudan,” he told the South African-based SABC.

Tens of thousands of people have died and nearly two million displaced since violence broke out in the young nation last year. Already, aid agencies anticipate that more than 2.5 million people could face starvation early next year, should conflict continue.

“Cessation of hostilities is key in restoring lasting peace and security in South Sudan,” said Zuma.

Meanwhile, a South Sudanese official said Zuma’s visit to Uganda and Tanzania would bolster the IGAD-led peace talks.

“South Africa has strong relations with the people of South Sudan and it can play a significant to role to provide support to the current peace efforts in the context of African solution for African problems,” said Mawien Makol, the foreign affairs ministry spokesperson.

“We believe the current conflict be resolved if we sit down as brothers and sisters”, he added.

Makol said South Sudanese would pursue the peace process from Ethiopia, despite recent calls for sanctions from its prime minister, if the country’s two warring factions fail to agree on a peace deal.

“We understand the circumstance under which these statements are issued. They are part of frustration because when someone wants to help you and is feeling some difficulties, it can be possible to make such statements,” said Makol.

“Our relations with the government and the people of Ethiopia are strong and we will always to continue to work to strengthen them to grow further even when there are difficulties," he further stressed, adding “We will overcome these difficulties”.

Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, South Africa has actively supportive the African Union (AU) Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) projects in the two Sudans under the umbrella of the AU ministerial committee on PCRD, which South Africa currently chairs.

(ST).