He also decreed emergency rule in three states, following recent army victories.

After retaking all major towns from rebels in recent weeks, South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, appealed for an immediate truce in the ongoing fighting with rebels led by former Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon.

Radio France Internationale, RFI, said he also decreed a state of emergency in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States following the army’s latest victory over rebels in the Upper Nile State capital of Malakal. He told State radio that the move was aimed at getting aid to civilians and the military. Earlier, the Jonglei and Unity State capitals of Bor and Bentiu respectively, were recaptured from renegade troops.

Apparently in a stronger position, President Kiir has called on his political foe to unconditionally ceasefire so that peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia can make progress. Meanwhile, the government of South Sudan on January 21, 2014 announced the cancellation of a regional summit that was scheduled for today, January 23, 2014, in the capital, Juba, citing the upcoming African Union summit next week.

The Sudan Tribune newspaper said Heads of State and governments as well as representatives of international organisations and foreign diplomats were expected to participate at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD summit. The summit was expected to specifically push the two warring parties to sign a ceasefire agreement as ongoing peace talks in neighbouring Ethiopia continue to stall. It has been suggested that Uganda’s recent decision to intervene militarily on the side of the government might have been responsible for the failure to hold the summit.