Pope Presses For Peace In South Sudan

The Pope has this week met with President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar in a bid to support the peace process between the two and plans for a unity government.

The leaders have been at a retreat at the Vatican where the Pope knelt to kiss the feet of Kiir and Machar as he called for peace and a permanent end to fighting. 

The meetings have taken place at Casa Santa Marta, which is home to Pope Francis, and was formerly host to peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian Presidents in 2014.

A power-sharing deal between Kiir and Machar was previously signed in October 2018. As part of the deal Machar is expected to resume his position as vice president after he was fired from the position in 2013. Following his dismissal fighting broke out in which an estimated 400,000 lost their lives and more than four million are thought to have been displaced.

The power-sharing deal is due to commence on May 12. However, International Crisis Group has warned that the deal may collapse.