South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has urged the Muslim community to pray for peace across the East African country.

In a statement, Kiir appealed to Muslims to seize the opportunity brought about by Eid el-Fitr to pray for the unity and stability of South Sudan.

“On a day like this, we are reminded to recommit ourselves to prayers. It is also the day we take the opportunity to pray for peace and forgiveness s a country,” partly reads the statement issued on Monday.

“As our Muslim brothers and sisters across South Sudan join Muslims around the world in celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan, my family and I send our warmest greetings,” it added.

The South Sudanese leader said the country, retarded due to civil war, can only progress if its citizens accept peaceful coexistence and forgiveness.

“As you open your families’ doors to your friends and neighbours during these Eid al Fitr festivities, let the joy and happiness radiating from this celebration amplify the message of peace and forgiveness within our communities,” he stressed.

Kiir further urged the Muslim community to use Eid el Fitr occasion to renew their determination to uphold God’s teaching and help the needy people.

Separately, Kiir also held a phone conversation with the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan during which he stressed the need for stronger ties between the two neighbouring countries.

An aide to the president told Sudan Tribune Monday that Kiir and Al-Burhan wowed to work together to implement their respective peace agreements.

“It is important to implement the two agreements so that we get out of these situations. They are people who want to exploit and take advantage of the situations in our two countries. It is clear from the onset that Sudan and South Sudan, especially the leadership in the two countries are the victims of plans and foreign agendas,” he explained, further adding “These plans are clear and they are prepared to be implemented by their agents”.

Kiir, according to the aide, promised to send his presidential adviser to Khartoum in the coming days for an update on the progress made in the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement revitalized in 2018 and to also use the visit as the opportunity to learn what the authorities in Sudan have done regards the implementation of the Juba peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Burhan reportedly commended Kiir and wished him well.

“He pledged the cooperation of his administration on a host of issues and to boost ties on security and stability,” disclosed the presidential aide.

The Sudanese leader, according to the official, told president Kiir that he was consulting with the Sudanese leadership to help identify a nationally acceptable personality to occupy the position of a Prime Minister.