South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reiterated his commitment to mediate a peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict that has killed thousands and displaced more than 5 million people in Sudan.

South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs minister, James Pitia told reporters on Sunday that Kiir conducted several bilateral meetings with other world leaders focused on global peace and security during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

“His Excellency the President met and held talks with several leaders on global peace and security. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and held a joint talk with him and the Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.  He also met and held cordial and fruitful talks with Swiss President, Alain Berset,” he explained.

The South Sudanese leader, Pitia said, also met the British Minister for International Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell on the sidelines of the UN assembly.

“The issue of the conflict in Sudan and how to resolve it was one of the topics his excellency had discussed at length with all he met and held discussions with them. He used these meetings as the opportunity to unveil his vision because he believes war is destructive and the longer the conflict is allowed to derail, the higher the cost of destruction in terms of lives and properties not only to Sudan but its neigbours and the region because of the spillover effects”, he added

Kiir, the minister stressed, called for the lifting of the arms embargo, arguing that the sanctions had become a major impediment to the implementation of the peace agreement and was derailing deployment of the necessary unified forces.

While addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, the South Sudanese leader urged support for refugees affected by the conflict in Sudan.

He vowed to cooperate with the international community to end the conflict.

“As the country sharing a border with the Republic of Sudan, South Sudan has received thousands of Sudanese refugees and our returnees since the conflict broke out in Sudan in April 2023”, explained Kiir.

He decried the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war in neighbouring Sudan.

“This influx has overwhelmed our border communities and created a humanitarian crisis. I am appealing to the international community to avail resources to help refugees and displaced persons who crossed into South Sudan,” said Kiir.

He also informed the assembly of his administration’s plan to conduct elections to establish democracy and set up a strong system of governance in the country.