Peace talks begin today between South Sudan’s two warring sides amidst continued fighting. Negotiators from the South Sudan government and rebel forces arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday after two weeks of violence that has left over 1,000 dead and tens of thousands displaced. Both sides have signed on to a ceasefire, but clashes continue. The South Sudan government has declared a state of emergency in two states where rebels are in control of the capital. South Sudan Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said his government is ready for unconditional dialogue.

South Sudan Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin: “The president had already formed his negotiating team, his dialogue team, since 48 hours ago, and this team now is ready to go this afternoon to Addis Ababa. So, we are for dialogue, unconditional dialogue, without any conditions. It was the other side putting conditions and refusing to send a team of their own. They were refusing equally for the cessation of hostilities. The president has been on record, and he said we don’t want the people of South Sudan to die again in a senseless war.”