The deadline for the next meeting between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, which the two men scheduled last May, will pass on Monday. As yet there is no confirmation of travel plans or other indications that the meeting will take place as agreed.

Salva Kiir and Riek Machar signed in Addis Ababa on 9 May the ‘Agreement to Resolve the Crisis in South Sudan,’ which stipulated that the two men would meet again within one month to review the deal.

The text of the agreement states that Kiir and Machar “agree to meet again, within one month, under IGAD auspices, to facilitate continued progress on the aforementioned issues and resolution of the crisis.”

According to the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has placed phone calls to both Kiir and Machar to urge them to adhere to the agreement.

“Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar to meet on Monday, as agreed to in the 9 May document that aimed to end the fighting in the world's newest country,” the UN News Centre reported.

In a telephone call with President Kiir, Mr. Ban expressed “grave concern” about ongoing hostilities and called for an “immediate” end to all military operations, his spokesperson said.

Subsequently, Ban also spoke with Machar by telephone. “He deplored the grave humanitarian situation in the country and reiterated the need for both parties to abide by these agreements and end all military operations immediately,” according to the UN report. 

Face-to-face talks between government and rebel delegations have been delayed this week, reportedly to give time for the mediators first to hold a three-day symposium with civil society groups.

The three-day symposium organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was delayed after civil society organisations failed to arrive at the venue due to logistical constraints, according to Sudan Tribune. 

The online daily was told by a source close to the peace process that the peace negotiations were delayed to allow the multi party symposium to go ahead, after which a decision would be made on when to resume talks.

“IGAD will announce the timetable for next round of talks based on the outcome of the all-inclusive symposium,” the source said.