World Bulletin / News Desk

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who arrived in Juba earlier Wednesday, has asserted that his country would continue supporting the government of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

Speaking at a press conference before wrapping up his hours-long visit, Kenyatta said his talks with Kiir had touched on the efforts exerted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to mediate a peace deal between Juba and rebels loyal to sacked vice-president Riek Machar.

The meeting focused on efforts to implement a cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the two rivals in January and set a mechanism for monitoring peace and stability in the nascent country, the Kenyan leader said.

The conflict in South Sudan escalated in mid-December after Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup against his presidency.

The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.

The UN estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the fighting.

Following a month-long first round of talks in Addis Ababa, the warring rivals signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in January.

A second round of talks kicked off last Tuesday in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. The two sides, however, made no progress amid an exchange of accusations over who had violated the cession of hostilities deal.

The rebel delegation last week appealed to IGAD mediators to put pressure on Juba to halt "attacks" on rebel-held areas.