South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar have adjourned their second face-to-face meeting in Juba until tomorrow morning.

The second meeting was initially scheduled to take place this morning.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj this morning, Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said: "The meeting has been adjourned due to the busy schedule of the president".

Ateny, who is also the presidential press secretary, confirmed that the second phase of talks between the two leaders will take place on Friday.

“The president is busy with other things that are also important. The meeting tomorrow will also focus on the implementation of the peace agreement,” he added.

Pouk Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information confirmed that the office of the president adjourned the meeting because Kiir had other commitments.

“The meeting has been postponed because the president had other commitments. The two principals were expected to meet with mechanisms of the peace agreement,” he said.    

The meetings between the two rival leaders are seen as a key step towards the implementation of the peace deal, which has been delayed by disputes.

On November 12, Kiir and Machar were given 100 days to resolve their differences and form a unity government.

President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other groups signed the peace deal in September 2018. However the parties have failed to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the deal was signed.