South Sudan wants peace talks held in Kenya

The Government of South Sudan wants peace talks between warring factions moved from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Kenya.

South Sudan Information minister Michael Makuei, also the government spokesman, said if the talks are brought to Kenya, the mediation process would lead to a quick resolution of the conflict and avert a looming humanitarian crisis in Africa's youngest nation.

He noted that his Government is also appealing to the Intergovernmental Agency for Development (Igad) to change the leadership of the mediating team, which is under Ethiopia's former Foreign Affairs minister Amb Seyoum Mesfin to be headed by Kenyan General Lazarus Sumbeiywo.

"We are demanding that Igad heads of states review their decision on the venue of the talks and also seriously consider the chief mediator," said Makuei during a status conference on South Sudan at a Nairobi hotel.

He said it was wrong for General Sumbeiywo to be put under someone who has never mediated a peace process, saying it was a misuse of the Igad seat.

The meeting was attended by several South Sudan Government officials as well as Kenyan lawmakers.