The UN Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operations says the time has come for the UN Security Council and the IGAD Plus international partners to invest in the implementation of the peace agreement.

IGAD international partners who are involved in the peace agreement include the African Union, the UN, China, Norway, Britain and the USA.

They have been facilitating the peace process and mounting pressure on the warring parties to resolve the conflict since it broke out in 2013.

UN Undersecretary, Hervé Ladsous says the peace process has now reached a critical stage, and needs more support, especially from the international community, or the progress made could be lost.

A statement by the UN quotes Mr. Ladsous saying the implementation process is moving very slowly with a number of challenges.

“We must work collectively on increasing the buy-in of the parties to the implementation of their Agreement, and actively support the institutions it has provided to put an end to this senseless conflict,” Mr. Ladsous said.

He urged the UN Security Council and the IGAD PLUS international partner countries to invest politically in supporting the beginning of the transformation.

Mr. Ladsous says there is need to actively support the institutions that have been formed under provisions of the peace agreement to end the conflict

He also called for an increase in the number of 500 UNMISS troops and 600 police in the country.

The UN Undersecretary warned that any unilateral political initiative taken by either thee government and the opposition at this point could jeopardize the peace process.