President Salva Kiir says he is still committed to the implementation of the peace agreement and wants to continue working with Dr Riek Machar.

This morning, he met the Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Festus Mogae, to discuss the importance of all parties to observe the ceasefire and work towards restoring peace and stability.

In his remarks to the press, President Kiir said he assured JMEC that the peace agreement still holds, and that he has been in touch with Dr Riek to resume work.

“I’ve given them (JMEC) assurances that I want Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President of the Republic, to be near me so that we chart the way forward,” President Kiir said.

“I asked him to come but it was difficult for him to accept. I asked him also to tell his ministers who are now in the hotels here in Juba to come out so that they talk to me…on what we should be doing.”

On Monday, President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar announced cessation of hostilities and ordered their forces to observe the ceasefire.

Calm has been reported across Juba in the last 2 days.