The United Nations has been asked to give the issue of peace and security in South Sudan the attention it deserves.
The call comes from Heads of State attending the 2nd Extra-ordinary Inter-Governmental Authority and Development summit that opened yesterday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
IGAD leaders in attendance include Yoweri Museveni, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Ismael Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Omar el Bashir of the Sudan, Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and Somali Premier Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud.
The Summit that has been convened at short notice is consulting on the security situation in South Sudan.
Speaking at the opening of the summit, Desalegn strongly urged the warring parties in South Sudan to abide by the resolutions reached by IGAD in order to give peace a chance to prevail in that country.
The Chairperson of the African Union Dlamini Zuma commended IGAD for its tireless efforts to resolve the problem in South Sudan and called on both parties to end the bloodshed.