South Sudanese president calls for national day of prayer

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has called for a national day of prayers for peace and forgiveness across the conflict-hit country.

In a statement broadcast on state-owned Radio and Television (SSBC) on Thursday, Kiir said the praying would be conducted in all state capitals on March 10.

He appealed to citizens to shun violence and seek forgiveness from God through prayer, while saying the national day of prayers would pave way for the start of a national dialogue initiative he declared late last year.

It is the first time the South Sudanese leader has called for a national day of prayers after the world's youngest nation descended into civil war more than three years ago following a political rift between the president and his former deputy Riek Machar, who is now being exiled in South Africa.

A peace pact signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a transitional unity government in April, but was again devastated by fresh violence in July.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, with over 2 million displaced and last week the UN declared famine in parts of the East African nation, warning that some 100,000 people, nearly half of the population, is in urgent need of food aid. Endit