UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — UN Security Council stands ready to act immediately if the government of South Sudan does not sign a peace agreement with the country’s opposition by Wednesday, UN Security Council President for August Joy Ogwu of Nigeria said Tuesday.
"Council members underscored the need to remain engaged on the situation in South Sudan. In this regard they expressed their readiness to act immediately if President Kiir does not sign the agreement tomorrow as he has undertaken," Ogwu said.
Earlier in August, rebel chief Riek Machar and Kiir attended peace talks in Addis Ababa. The country’s government refused to immediately sign the peace agreement, claiming it would return to the negotiating table two weeks and a day after the consultations.
Violence erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 when Kiir accused then-Vice President Riek Machar of plotting a coup. The conflict sparked clashes between government and opposition forces despite a number of ceasefire agreements.
