East African leaders to discuss South Sudan crisis

(Vatican Radio) In his Urbi et Orbi address on Christmas Day, Pope Francis called for peace in the world, making particular mention of several war-torn countries, including South Sudan.

East African leaders are expected to meet in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Friday to discuss a political solution to the growing violence in South Sudan. In the past 12 days of fighting, about 1,000 people have been killed and more than 50,000 others have sought refuge on UN compounds.

The talks, aimed at advancing peace in the nation, follow Thursday’s meeting of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Hailemariam Desalegn in Juba with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.

The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, told a press conference on Thursday that the UN fully supports Friday’s meeting in Nairobi. She added that both peacekeeping reinforcements and much-needed equipment are expected to arrive in the country in the next 48 hours.

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