United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon met with South Sudan's president Thursday in an effort to advance the peace accord aimed at ending the country's civil war.
Ban's visit to Juba came as the South Sudanese government and opposition prepare to form a unity government, in which rebel chief Riek Machar will serve as first vice president.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, South Sudan's foreign minister said Kiir assured the secretary-general of his commitment to implement the accord.
He said Ban assured the president "that he will urge Machar to come to Juba as soon as possible so the transitional government of national unity can be formed."
On Tuesday, the sides agreed on an arrangement for 1,370 pro-Machar soldiers to move into the capital ahead of Machar's arrival.
More security forces are expected to join them after the power-sharing transitional government is formed.
After two years of civil war, rebel leader Machar and South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed a peace deal in August, agreeing to run a unity government for 30 months before holding elections. Kiir appointed Machar as his vice president last week, in the first step toward forming the unity government.
Despite the moves toward solidarity, fighting continues in parts of South Sudan. Over the past two years, tens of thousands of people have died and more than two million have been displaced because of the violence.
