Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced that the regional bloc IGAD will hold a Summit before the end of January, with a focus on South Sudan.

Ruto on Monday said he had made the commitment following a call from Sudan’s leader General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.

He said they discussed relations between Kenya and Sudan and deliberated about the security situation in the Eastern Africa region.

Al-Burhan is the chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The bloc comprises seven member states, including Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

"We committed to holding a special IGAD Summit focusing on South Sudan before the end of this month to assess the status of implementation of the “Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” and address any emerging issues," Ruto said.

The revitalized peace agreement was signed in September 2018 by South Sudan's parties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In his statement, Ruto acknowledged President Salva Kiir's special message recognizing Kenya’s support in the peace-seeking solution.

"We also appreciate President Salva Kiir’s special message recognizing Kenya’s support in seeking solutions to emerging challenges in South Sudan, searching for durable peace and delivering humanitarian assistance to the affected communities," he said.