Key to solving African issues in hands of African people: Chinese FM

China believes the key to solving issues in Africa is in the hands of the African people, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his visit to Kenya on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a joint conference with his Kenyan counterpart Amina Mohamed after their talks and a meeting with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

Wang said that China would continue to firmly support African people solving African issues in an African way, as well as the leading role played by countries like Kenya and regional blocs like the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in this regard.

The IGAD groups Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.

IGAD has recently made positive progress in its efforts to promote peace in South Sudan, Wang said.

"We believe that the African people have all the wisdom and capability to solve their issues," he added.

Renewed fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital Juba between troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to former First Vice President Riek Machar in early July.

The two sides had fought a civil war which broke out in December 2013. A peace deal signed last August led to the formation of a national unity government in April but failed to quell the fresh violence.

Wang said China twice initiated consultations aimed at ending hostilities.

The Chinese ambassador in South Sudan, he said, has had close and frequent exchanges with the warring parties. So far, China's special envoy for African affairs has also made over 20 trips to the country and neighboring nations in shuttle diplomacy to boost mediation efforts.

"China will continue to participate in the peaceful settlement of regional hot issues in an even more active way, and make new, greater contributions to promoting peace and stability in Africa," Wang said. Endit