United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on South Sudan’s warring factions to end hostilities and reach a compromise.

“Today, I repeat my call to President [Salva] Kiir and former Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar to give up war – for the sake of the people and future of South Sudan,” Ban said Monday.

The UN chief made the remarks during a joint press conference with the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on the situation in South Sudan on the sidelines of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

He also urged the two sides “to compromise, forge a political deal and make true on their promises to protect their people.”

Ban further asked South Sudan’s neighbors to use their influence on the warring sides to help end the conflict.

South Sudan, which marked four years of independence from Sudan last Thursday, plunged into chaos in December 2013, when fighting erupted between troops loyal to Kiir and defectors led by Machar around the capital, Juba.

The clashes that ensued have left tens of thousands of people dead and forced millions of others to flee their homes.