UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is encouraged that a ceasefire in South Sudan is largely holding and violence among signatories to September’s peace agreement has decreased – but he says sporadic clashes continue indicating “the situation remains fragile”.
The UN chief also warns that key benchmarks haven’t been achieved five months into an eight-month period preceding the political transition planned under the accord.
These include “silencing the guns”, reaching agreement on a future vision for the security sector, establishing transitional security arrangements, and forming a transitional government that meets agreed quotas for women and the opposition, Guterres says.
Ethiopian Prime minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki arrive to Juba in South Sudan on an official visit, and are welcomed by South Sudan president Salva Kiir.
Fighting has killed almost four hundred thousand, displaced millions and left more than 7 million – two-thirds of the population – “severely food insecure” and in need of humanitarian aid.
