The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) foreign ministers Monday evening briefed President Kiir on the outcome of consultations on the next round of talks.

The IGAD delegation arrived in the South Sudanese capital Juba over the weekend to carry out behind the scene consultations.

The regional bloc last week adjourned the peace talks to 17-21 May, saying there was a need for more time to allow continuation of shuttle diplomacy meetings with the South Sudan parties.

In a press statement after their meeting with Kiir in Juba this evening, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Hirut Zemene said: “We have briefed His Excellency President Salva Kiir on the outcomes of what has been reached.”

Zemene said the IGAD team and South Sudan government officials discussed issues pertaining to power sharing and security sector reform.

“The feedback was very encouraging. We have seen a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, and we will take this to the other side,” she explained.

The Ethiopian official said the IGAD council of ministers will work to narrow the gap between the South Sudan warring parties.

For his part, Martin Elia Lomuro, South Sudan’s minister of cabinet affairs said his government had a constructive engagement with the visiting IGAD team.

“We are quite happy that the process has started and we have encouraged them to continue narrowing the gap,” Lomuro said.