South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir left Juba for Ethiopia on Wednesday morning, amid growing international and regional pressure.

The IGAD Council of Ministers is expected to hold an extraordinary session to consider punitive measures against peace violators in South Sudan on Thursday.

UN Security Council is also due to vote on Thursday to impose sanctions on top South Sudan government officials.

The trip would be Kiir’s first official visit to Ethiopia since the resignation of former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

In a press statement in Juba, Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesman said President Kiir will meet with the new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ateny explained that the South Sudanese leader will discuss with the new Ethiopian Prime Minister his government's position on the recent peace proposal by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Kiir was accompanied by his senior adviser, Nhial Deng Nhial and a number of cabinet ministers.