That's right Jeff. The latest peace efforts in South Sudan have taken a few steps back. Leaders from regional bloc IGAD have been meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss how to bring peace to the war-torn country. It appears as if there's yet another deadlock between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his rival, opposition leader Riek Machar. CGTN's Girum Chala has more.

The leaders of IGAD member states have been gathered in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. They are mediating a lasting peace in South Sudan. Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is the current chair of IGAD. He says reaching a deal is critical for South Sudan - and beyond.

ABIY AHMED ALI, CHAIRPERSON, IGAD "South Sudan remains at the heart of our region-wide efforts towards discourse. The crisis in south Sudan is by definition a crisis of the whole sub-region And the immediate solution for this crisis is political and the leaders who need to make it happen are with us here today."

It was up to these two men - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. But they can still not agree on several issues. Power-sharing is one of them.

MICHAEL MAKUEI LUETH, INFORMATION MINISTER, SOUTH SUDAN "It's not only lack of trust between President Salva and Riek Machar, but its lack of trust between Riek Machar and the people of South Sudan. Because the experience people of South Sudan have had with Riek Machar is an experience that cannot be forgotten. And as such, the people of South Sudan who have lost confidence in him. And as such we are saying for us to be a stable government, then we prefer to have Riek Mechar outside the government."

The number of opposition and ruling party seats in South Sudan's parliament is another sticking point.

MICHAEL MAKUEI LUETH, INFORMATION MINISTER, SOUTH SUDAN "The parliament according to the opposition and this is also the position of IGAD, they are recommending that some 134 members must be unseated and 134 others should be appointed in their places. We are saying this is against the policy of inclusivity."

PTC GIRUM CHALA, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA "IGAD will now continue its consultations with the rival South Sudanese leaders. Two more rounds of high-level talks are scheduled in Khartoum and Nairobi in the coming weeks. Only then, will the two sides return to Addis as the people of South Sudan still wait for peace. Girum Chala, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."