President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has urged the government of South Sudan and other political factions to start the implementation of the peace agreements reached under the auspices of the United Nations, the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD).

President Buhari made the call on Friday at a meeting with the United Nations’ High Representative for South Sudan, Alfa Oumar Konare, held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The Nigerian President pledged that Nigeria would continue to work in close collaboration with the African Union and the international community for the achievement of reconciliation and lasting peace in South Sudan.

He said: “Compliance with the agreements by all parties to the dispute in South Sudan was an essential first step towards returning the country to the path of peace, stability and development”.

The United Nations Representative told President Buhari that violence had regrettably continued in South Sudan in spite of several peace agreements.

Mr Konare expressed concern that the continuing political dispute in South Sudan could deteriorate further if left unresolved and worsen the humanitarian crisis in the country with negative consequences for neighbouring countries.

“What we have before us is a very complicated situation and I am concerned that unless the parties start implementing the various agreements for peace, the crisis will deepen,” he told President Buhari.

South Sudan factions have disagreed over the power-sharing protocol and have refused to implement the peace agreements despite efforts to end months of crisis that started months after the nation got their independence from Sudan.