Resolve South Sudan crisis, United Nations boss Ban Ki-moon says

NAIROBI: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for a quick resolution to the South Sudan crisis.

Speaking at State House, Nairobi yesterday, Mr Ban asked South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar to pay attention to the pleas of their people and world leaders.

"I'm encouraged by the strong and unified voices against the situation in South Sudan. The leadership of South Sudan should listen to the voices of the whole world," he said.

"I count on all leadership in the region to send a strong voice so that we are committed to the South Sudan conflict," he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was among the first world leaders to condemn the flare up of hostilities in South Sudan, called for concerted efforts in stemming the violence that also displaced thousands of people.

He asked the international community to join the region in resolving the crisis whose consequences across the region is the flow of refugees.

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"We have all watched South Sudan in sorrow. Our region has once again fallen into division and violence. It is our responsibility as a region to restore peace. The responsibility is collective and all of us must work to restore peace. Those outside the region ought to support us to restore peace to the region," Uhuru said.

The President said it's up to the region to sustain the "necessary pressure".

The conflict in South Sudan was also the subject of discussion at the ongoing African Union summit in Rwanda. A number of countries including Kenya have already evacuated their citizens form South Sudan.