WASHINGTON, April 9 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to South Sudan tomorrow to meet with the minster in the office of the president, Awan Riak to discuss the "urgent need to end the conflict", State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters Wednesday.
"Secretary Kerry will emphasize the importance of ending the fighting, implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement, resolving outstanding issues through an inclusive national dialogue, ensuring humanitarian and UN access and putting a stop to human rights abuses during this meeting," said Psaki.
Earlier this week President Barack Obama signed an executive order that threatened US sanction against anyone who incites or starts violence in South Sudan.
In terms of the executive order Psaki stressed, "this was prompted by the ongoing crisis and the failure to abide by the cessation of hostilities. And they have the power to abide by that cessation. We certainly do have deep concerns about what''''s happening on the ground. And this was an expression of that." The South Sudanese conflict began in December 2013 after president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir of the Dinka tribe fired his vice president, Riek Machar of the Nuer tribe.
These are the two largest ethnic groups in a country where political affiliations are based upon ethnicity. South Sudan is the worldآ’s youngest country who declared their independence in 2011. (end) ak.sd