South Sudan: President Kiir urges rival Riek Machar to resume peace talks

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (l) and Riek Machar (c) exchange documents at the peace signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 9 2014. PHOTO/Reuters

South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Wednesday called on rebels to resume peace talks as the country marked its third birthday with celebrations overshadowed by conflict that has displaced thousands.

In a swift response, rebel leader Riek Machar told reporters in Ethiopia that he was ready to resume dialogue.

Conflict erupted in December pitting the government forces of Kiir against supporters of Machar, his former deputy and long-time rival. The conflict has reopened deep tensions in the world’s youngest country, which only won independence from Sudan in 2011.

“Put down your guns and come home,” Kiir said in Juba during a ceremony marking the anniversary of independence. “I still renew my call upon him (Machar) to accept the logic of peaceful resolution to the conflict so that we resolve this issue.”

Peace talks between Kiir and Machar produced few results and stalled after they last met in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in May and agreed on a ceasefire. “On our side, we are ready to continue negotiations,” Machar told reporters in Addis Ababa, adding that he has also called for the talks to be resumed soon.

Three years on, a much smaller and more reticent crowd listened as the president gave an independence day address. More than 10,000 people have been displaced since conflict broke out in December, crippling South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy.

Regional authorities continue to work with both sides in a bid to enforce the cease fire and implement a power sharing deal.