ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday suspended South Sudan peace talks for an undetermined time to give warring sides more time to reach conclusive agreement.
Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene said the positive spirit achieved during the latest round of peace talks should continue in the next session.
Ethiopia, an influential South Sudan neighbor, currently shelters around half a million South Sudanese refugees and has hosted several rounds of peace talks since the South Sudan civil war erupted in December 2013.
The conflict started as a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his ex-deputy Riek Machar but has since fragmented to several sides complicating efforts to achieve peace.
"A permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangement is needed to find a common ground for the finalization of a comprehensive agreement at the next phase of peace talks," Zemene said.
She also said that the recess time until the start of new peace talks should be used to overcome remaining difficulties for a lasting peace agreement.
Zemene called for a list of ceasefire violators to be prepared ahead of the next round of peace talks so that actions can be taken on peace spoilers.
