"The first thing to do is to make sure that peace is restored in the country. And then if peace is restored, development must follow because peace without dividends means no peace at all," Mayai said.

"The government and international community helping South Sudan need to make sure that they invest in education, health, infrastructure and food security. That is what will bring peace to ordinary citizens," he added.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir said on July 8 the country would not hold public celebrations to mark the ninth independence anniversary due to the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

Kiir appealed to citizens to desist from violence and instead support him to implement the 2018 peace deal.

He acknowledged that his administration had fallen short of expectation from citizens who yearned for peace, stability and prosperity.

"Let us all work tirelessly irrespective of our political leanings to restore trust among ourselves and to mend the social fabric that was torn apart by war that we are now putting behind us," Kiir said.

"Let us all desist from unnecessary propaganda and instead work together as South Sudanese to put our country permanently on the path of peace," he added.

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