President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a lasting solution to the five-year conflict in South Sudan.
His call comes as the ceasefire agreement between President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar which was broken hours after it took effect, devastating hopes of an end to the five-year civil war.
Ramaphosa is joining other African Heads of State currently meeting in Mauritania.
The leaders have warned that Kiir and Machar continue to violate a ceasefire agreement that was signed last week.
Ramaphosa says the conflict should end, in order to improve the lives of war-weary civilians as well as refugees in the region.
“We are aware that punitive measures against the South Sudanese parties for violating the peace agreement are being contemplated by a number of other institutions outside of the continent. It is my view that the continent through our committee should be involved in discussions of this nature.”
“Together with Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) our committee cannot avoid discussions over the use of a combination of reward and punishment to ensure that we save the innocent civilians in South Sudan,” adds Ramaphosa.
