United States or US Special Envoy to South Sudan and Sudan on Thursday said arrangement to deploy regional force under United Nations or UN mandate to monitor and verify implementation of Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was at final stage.
Ambassador Donald Booth told journalists in a telephonic conference that US, UN and IGAD mediators were working to implement the deployment plan in the nearest future to ensure respect for agreements and peaceful resolution of conflict.
He added that the regional force deployment to the country would mark the withdrawal of allied foreign forces fighting alongside warring parties as agreed in January 23.
Ambassador Booth said the US would continue to press on warring parties to adhere to agreements and ensure violators held accountable for actions.
The Special Envoy refuted observations that the US delayed to intervene in South Sudan conflict characterized with genocide.
He argued that he visited Juba two times before eruption of violence in mid December to try helping President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar sort out political differences peacefully, but his efforts unfortunately were fruitless.
Ambssador Booth decried civilians killing in Juba and other parts of the country as a result of the conflict.
US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and Democratic Republic of Congo, Russell Feingold said State Secretary John Kerry’s visit to Africa helped America focus on critical peace, security and cooperation issues.