UN urges for peace in South Sudan

(Vatican Radio) The UN’s senior official in South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, has called for a halt to the worsening violence in the country, as its president has declared a state of emergency.

In the last two weeks, at least 1,000 people have died and 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of the fighting between political supporters of President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar.

The violence of the political struggle has created ethnic tensions between the two sides.

President Kiir has declared a state of emergency for the areas heavily affected by rebel control, including the central city, Bor.

Both groups have sent delegations to Ethiopia for peace talks which will take place as early as today. They will have to discuss a way to monitor the cease fire, as rebels are reluctant to stop fighting. UN official Johnson urged leaders to bring the situation “back from the brink.”

Listen to the report by Andrew Summerson: