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The Council of Elders is urging the people of South Sudan to embrace the spirit of national unity.

The elders from the three regions of Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria and Upper Nile have been meeting in Juba over the past three days.

They have discussed how to help the warring parties find lasting solution to the current crisis. They have also called for reforms in the government.

Addressing the media, the co-chairman of the group, Justice Ambrose Ring, said they agreed to talk to the different communities through the media and public gatherings.

“Hopefully by that time, we should have agreed with the rebels and then we be now looking for how to reform our governance system,” said Mr Ring.

Retired Major-General Alison Monani Magaya said the priority for the whole country now is to bring peace.

“The positive message we want to give is that we want our people to unite, we want our people to discuss problems they defer on openly,” he said.

Even if they don’t agree on it, they should not have animosity. That is the basis of democracy. Listen to the other’s view; even if you don’t agree with it.”

The elders from the ten states will end their meeting this event and will issue some recommendations to the warring parties, to help them end the conflict in South Sudan.