United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday welcomed the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force to help quell the ongoing violence in the country. 
Ban called on all South Sudanese parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and to demonstrate their commitment to a peace agreement, "the only viable path" out of the crisis. 
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General welcomed the communique of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus countries, which proposed the deployment of the force, agreed at a regional meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Media reports suggest IGAD leaders' aim is for the force to help shore up South Sudan's year-old peace deal. 
"He commends the IGAD leaders for their decisive action and welcomes the Government of South Sudan's acceptance of a regional protection force," the statement continued, adding that Ban called on all South Sudanese leaders to set aside their personal differences and demonstrate their commitment to the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, "which remains the only viable path to ending the crisis".

Source; QNA