Western embassies in South Sudan offer to mediate after clashes

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir together with South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar. [Majak Kuanya, AFP]

The embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Britain, the United States, and the European Union offered on Tuesday to mediate between the leaders of South Sudan as fears of renewed conflict escalated.

In a joint statement, the embassies urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to meet and engage in direct dialogue to restore and maintain peace.