×

Our award-winning reporting has moved

Context provides news and analysis on three of the world’s most critical issues:

climate change, the impact of technology on society, and inclusive economies.

South Sudan civil war foes to meet in Ethiopia - Addis ministry

by Reuters
Tuesday, 19 June 2018 10:29 GMT

ARCHIVE PHOTO: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit smiles upon arrival at Khartoum airport, Sudan November 1,2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Image Caption and Rights Information

The ethnically-charged conflict in S. Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and repeatedly brought large parts of its population to the brink of famine

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA, June 19 (Reuters) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir will meet his rival Riek Machar in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, as part of talks to try and negotiate an end to a five-year-old civil war, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said.

The ethnically-charged conflict has killed tens of thousands of people in the world's youngest country and repeatedly brought large parts of its population to the brink of famine. A series of ceasefires and pacts have failed.

"The meeting on South Sudan tomorrow will be held under the auspices of (Ethiopian) Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with the aim of bridging gaps between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar," the ministry statement said.

Fighting first erupted between troops loyal to Kiir and Machar, then the vice president, in December 2013 - just two years after South Sudan's independence from Sudan.

Machar has been held under house arrest in South Africa since late 2016.

He will be in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, the Ethiopian ministry said. Foreign ministers from the East African bloc IGAD will then discuss South Sudan on Thursday, followed by a leaders' gathering in the Ethiopian capital, the ministry added.

(Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Writing by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

-->