The Secretary-General met today with Ms. Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior of South Sudan, widow of First Vice-President of Sudan, Dr. John Garang. The Secretary-General paid tribute to late Dr. Garang and to his legacy in helping South Sudan achieve its independence.

The Secretary-General and Ms. de Mabior shared their deep concern about the current situation in the country, including for the 1.6 million internally displaced people. They emphasized the impact of the violence on the women of South Sudan and commended their resilience.

The Secretary-General said the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union all agreed that the fighting must stop. He stressed the need for President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to engage in genuine talks and show their political leadership, putting their personal interests aside.