The South Sudanese government and rebel negotiators are at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where peace talks are underway to settle the bloody civil war that rages on in the world’s youngest country.
Each side of the conflict will initially meet mediators and hopefully proceed to face-to-face talks.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people in South Sudan have fled with their children and a few belongings from some of the fiercest fighting in Jonglei state’s capital Bor.
The clashes have exposed rivalry between the country’s two largest ethnic groups: Dinkas loyal to the president, Salva Kiir, and Nuers loyal to ousted vice-president, Riek Machar.
Mabior Madit Reech, a former policeman displaced from Bor, explained why he fled:
“What made me leave Bor was the fighting which has killed people. I have seen some bodies. Some of my colleagues were killed. There was a lot of shooting in the town,” said Reech.
Humanitarian aid agencies face the challenge of trying to feed and provide water for the displaced as peace talks continue with no end to the fighting in sight.
