Ban urges S. Sudan leadership to "show leadership"

NEW YORK, March 4 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly urged South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar to show leadership, put the well being of South Sudanese ahead of all other interests.
Moreover, Ban urged them to make the necessary compromises to conclude a power sharing agreement that paves the way for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in South Sudan.
This came in a statement issued by Ban's press office, late on Tuesday, as the March 5 deadline set by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation for the conclusion of the South Sudan negotiations approaches.
The UN chief, the statement added, took note of the unanimous passage of Resolution 2206 (2015) by the Security Council this morning (early Tuesday), establishing a sanctions regime on South Sudan.
Ban reminded both parties that the best way to avoid the enactment of actual sanctions by the Security Council, is to strictly adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities agreement of January 23, 2014, fully comply with International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, extend their full cooperation to United Nations and humanitarian personnel in the discharge of their mandates and duties, and conclude a Comprehensive Peace Agreement that places South Sudan back on the path to stability and prosperity.
He then commended and supported the efforts of the region to facilitate a conclusion of the negotiation process, the statement concluded. (end) mao.gta