The UN Secretary-General spoke yesterday with President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, commending him for his decision to welcome Riek Machar back to Juba and swear him in as the First Vice President, according to the office of the UN chief.

Ban's spokesperson explained in a readout of the call that the UN chief “called for the expeditious implementation of the security arrangements envisaged in the peace agreement and the withdrawal additional SPLA troops from Juba.”

“The Secretary-General also spoke to the First Vice President Designate of the Republic of South Sudan, Riek Machar. He welcomed his decision to return to Juba and urged him to work with President Kiir to prevent any further violence,” reads the statement from the UN yesterday.

Ban Ki-moon also underscored the need to quickly form the Transitional Government of National Unity, as a “crucial next step in the peace process,” according to the statement.

He urged both leaders to continue working together with the Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, former Botswana President Festus Mogae, and the African Union High Representative for South Sudan, former president Konare, towards the implementation of the peace agreement.