The UN Secretary-General is expected to arrive Tuesday to Juba to meet President Salva Kiir and to visit the UN camps where thousands of people have taken shelter.

The UN chief’s visit comes just days after that of the US foreign secretary, John Kerry, who announced that President Salva Kiir was willing to meet the leader of the opposition forces Riek Machar.

A day after the visit two divisions of Kiir’s army started offensives towards the capital of Unity State, Bentiu and the key town Nasir in Upper Nile.

Ban’s visit also comes as the UN considers a new mandate for its peacekeeping mission. At issue is whether the mandate will be reduced to a protection and humanitarian support operation for civilians within camps, or whether the mission will be reinforced for a broader peacekeeping role.