US President Barack Obama said yesterday in Addis Ababa that he is hopeful that diplomatic efforts will lead to a peace agreement, according to a video of his remarks released by the White House.

The president was speaking to the press at a meeting on South Sudan attended by Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Obama expressed his appreciation to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and other IGAD leaders saying, “They have shown extraordinary leadership in trying to address the continuing situation in South Sudan.”

“And this gives me and the US delegation opportunity to learn from them what progress has been made, where there appear to be continued roadblocks and how we can partner with them to make progress. So I want to thank IGAD for the outstanding work they're doing, the African Union for their leadership as well.”

“As a consequence of this discussion our hope is that we can actually bring about the kind of peace that the people of South Sudan so desperately need.”

Separately, Obama told the African Union in a speech today that if Kiir and Macahr do not reach a peace agreement, "I believe the international community must raise the costs of intransigence."

He added, "Accountability for atrocities must be part of any lasting peace for Africa's youngest nation."

Obama's remarks follow the release of an IGAD peace proposal that the regional mediators say they want the warring parties to sign next month in August.

IGAD has been mediating peace talks since January 2014. 

Related: 

African Union again delays release of atrocities report (27 July)