Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn says he has been preventing countries that, he says have their own interests in South Sudan, from delaying the peace process.

Mr Dessalegn says his country has ‘no ulterior motive in South Sudan’, and has been acting as a neutral body, until the parties to the conflict signed an agreement in August.

He did not name any countries in the region or overseas.

However, Uganda has troops in the country, supporting the government, while Sudan has been accused of supporting the SPLM in Opposition.

“We told them ‘please don’t’. We have made our stand clearly that priority should be given to the people of South Sudan and not to this or that side,” he told the media in Addis Ababa,” Mr Dessalegn

Members of the international community are now exerting pressure on both sides to implement the agreement.

The Ugandan forces have also started withdrawing from South Sudan in line with the agreement.