Presidents meet to discuss peace in South Sudan

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's president met with the leaders of Tanzania and Uganda on yesterday for talks on the South Sudan peace process, South Africa's government said.

Neighboring countries have helped negotiate three previous ceasefire agreements in South Sudan, all of which have failed. President Jacob Zuma's trip to Tanzania, where he met President Jakaya Kikwete, and to Uganda to meet President Yoweri Museveni are a part on ongoing regional talks to end the crisis in the world's newest nation.

Fighting broke out in the oil-rich country about a year ago, pitting Kiir's supporters against former Vice President Reik Machar's followers. Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, accused Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of trying to oust him in a coup.

Tens of thousands of people have died and 1.9 million more have been displaced by warfare in the young nation, the United Nations says. The UN Security Council blamed South Sudan's "man-made political, security and humanitarian catastrophe" and the threat of famine on its feuding leaders. The council has threatened to impose sanctions against figures hindering the peace process.

East African nations have also threatened political and economic sanctions against Kiir's government and Machar's faction, if the violence continues.