The United States of American Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in South Sudan to meet with President Salva Kiir Mayardit during a brief visit. He will also meet with UN Special Representative Hilde Johnson.

South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin told press at the airport, “We welcome the visit of the US Secretary of State and the president later will brief him on the commitment of government towards peace and issues of human rights abuses and how the Republic of South Sudan has already taken steps on investigate and all those who accountable will be brought to book.”

The US government has warned both sides to the conflict in South Sudan that they will likely face sanctions. Marial commented, “Of course, basically the relationship South Sudan and the US have is to help the country but not to punish the country.”

Marial said President Kiir will enlighten the Secretary of State about the commitment of the government to the implementation of peace particularly on the peace talks in Addis Ababa. He emphasized that Kiir will also discuss issues of mutual relations between the United States and South Sudan.

Photo: Minister in the Office of the President Awan Riak welcomes US Secretary of State John Kerry at Juba Airport, 2 May 2014 (Radio Tamazuj)

Gallery: John Kerry disembarks from airplane (1), he is welcomed by Foreign MInister Barnaba Marial, with US Ambassador Susan Page standing to his left (2), and Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial addresses the press at Juba Airport (3).