NAIROBI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on South Sudan leader to consolidate peace dividends to accelerate the country's social and economic growth.
Kenyatta said the moment has come for the patriotic men and women of Africa's youngest nation to secure their place in national, regional, continental and global arena.
"The leadership of South Sudan, across the entire spectrum, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge for lasting peace that provides the internal stability and enabling environment for your country's take-off, both economically and socially," Kenyatta told visiting South Sudan President Salva Kiir.
The Kenyan leader spoke on Monday evening during a state banquet hosted for Kiir and his delegation in Nairobi.
Kenyatta's office said in a statement issued after the reception that the Kenyan leader urged the South Sudan leadership to defy the naysayers and prophets of doom by putting aside their differences and delivering unity, peace and security to their nation.
Kenyatta said Kenya will continue to provide technical and diplomatic support to facilitate the implementation of the peace process including deployment of military ceasefire monitors as well as technical advisors to various transitional and implementation mechanisms.
"Kenya is cognizant of the fact that the political, security, economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan will largely be determined by the success in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) which was signed by the parties on 12th September 2018," he said.
He said commitment to the agreement will allow South Sudan to shed off the yoke of needless conflict and internal disunity that have limited the Horn of Africa country's achievement of its full potential.
Kenyatta said South Sudan will be able to take advantage of the immense opportunities available on the African continent.
"One of these is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) which has opened enormous trade and investment opportunities among African countries. Another is the East African Community, which South Sudan is the youngest member," the Kenyan leader said.
Speaking during the occasion, Kiir thanked Kenyatta for inviting him for the state visit, saying it has strengthened the bond of friendship between Kenya and South Sudan.
"I want to assure that South Sudanese and the great people of Kenya are one people. We share common borders and we are good neighbors," Kiir said.
