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1st LD Writethru: UN chief disappointed with failure of peace talks in South Sudan

Xinhua, March 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday expressed his "profound disappointment" following the unsuccessful conclusion of the peace talks and the failure of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to display statesmanship and reach an agreement on power- sharing arrangements.

South Sudan's government and rebels failed to strike a peace deal after days of talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, mediators said Friday. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a statement that he regretted "the talks did not produce the necessary breakthrough."

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has been mediating the South Sudan peace negotiations to end the more than one year conflict in the world's youngest country.

Kiir and Machar signed the latest agreement on Feb. 1 to conclude the negotiations by March 5 towards establishing a transitional government no later than July 9 of this year.

Over the past two days, the secretary-general has reached out to the parties and regional leaders and called for the continuation of the negotiations, the statement said. "He strongly urges both parties to refrain from any attempt to escalate the conflict and reiterates that there can be no military solution or alternative to a negotiated settlement."

Ban appreciates the efforts and vital role played by IGAD and its special envoys in bringing peace to South Sudan, the statement said. "He supports IGAD's intention to expand the mediation to include other partners."

The UN chief recalls the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2206, unanimously adopted earlier this week, and the council's intention to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities who fail to abide by the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of Jan. 23, 2014, the statement said.

Fighting erupted in December 2013 after a political dispute in which Kiir sacked Machar. The fighting has killed more than 10,000 people and driven more than 1.5 million from their homes. The conflict runs along ethnic rifts that pre-date independence. Endite