The African Union says it looks forward to a positive outcome from the talks between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former deputy Dr. Riek Machar in Addis Ababa.

Both President Kiir and Machar have arrived in Addis Ababa for a first face-to-face meeting between them since the conflict erupted in December last year.

The meeting is under the auspices of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, who is also the Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD.

In a press release ahead of the meeting of President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, the Chairperson of the Commission of the AU, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said the meeting is taking place against the background of a deteriorating situation in South Sudan.

She urged the two leaders to seize the opportunity of their meeting today to agree on concrete steps to honor their commitments under the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on the 23^rd of January.

Dr. Zuma urged both parties to move the political process forward.

She said the people of South Sudan, people of Africa and the larger international community, who are distressed by the appalling situation on the ground, expect positive outcome from President Kiir and Riek Machar.

The AU chief said the urgency of finding a lasting solution to the crisis cannot be over emphasized.

She noted that the summit meeting is taking place on the heels of the signing by the Parties in Addis Ababa on Monday of a “Recommitment on Humanitarian Matters in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government and the SPLM-SPLA In-Opposition.

Dr. Zuma said the agreement which provides for a month of tranquility starting from the 7^th of May 2014, is imperative that the commitments made are fully implemented to enable the unhindered, unrestricted and safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.