United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today spoke by phone with President Salva Kiir, and separately with Dr Riek Machar, who was today expected to be sworn in as the First Vice President of South Sudan.

While speaking with President Kiir, Mr Ban commended his decision to welcome Dr Machar back to Juba and to swear him in as the First Vice President today.

Mr Ban also called for speedy implementation of the security arrangements and the withdrawal of additional government troops from Juba.

“The Secretary-General underscored the need to quickly form the Transitional Government of National Unity, as a crucial next step in the peace process,” read a statement.

In his conversation with Dr Machar, Mr Ban welcomed the decision of the First Vice President Designate to return to Juba and urged him to work with President Kiir to prevent any further violence.

The UN boss emphasized the importance of quickly establishing the Transitional Government of National Unity, which was agreed to as part of a peace agreement signed in August of last year by both leaders.

According to a readout of the telephone calls, Mr Ban also urged both leaders to continue working together with the Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, former president Festus Mogae, and the African Union High Representative for South Sudan, former president Alpha Oumar Konare, towards the implementation of the peace agreement.