Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, was in the neighbouring South Sudan on Thursday.
Odinga, an opposition leader who changed tune and teamed up to work with his political nemesis President Uhuru Kenyatta, held discussions with South Sudan President Salva Kirr Miyardit at State House in Juba.
IGAD said talks in Ethiopia to revive South Sudan’s failed 2015 peace pact and end the country’s civil war broke up on Wednesday without a deal, prolonging a conflict that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions.
IGAD has been helping to mediate and get South Sudan’s warring parties to agree again on power sharing and security arrangements, crucial steps for recommitting to the 2015 agreement and ending the war in Africa's youngest country which attained independence in December 2011.
In a statement IGAD said the talks ended on Wednesday after “several attempts to narrow the gaps between the positions of the parties” proved fruitless.
Accompanied by Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and Lawyer Paul Mwangi, Odinga held peace and stability-related discussions with Kiir.
Odinga's move comes days after he had an opportunity to engage with the Oxford Union, with part of their discussion majoring on the colonial heritage, education and cultural links that broke language barriers.
During the May 18, meeting, Odinga said Africa was looking for partners who believed in win-win relationships.
"We are keen on greater practical, politically backed engagement with the private sector and civil-society actors, on both continents to fuel democratization and economic prosperity," he said.
Odinga disclosed that leaders are determined to move Africa away from simply being a place where the powerhouse economies of the West and East come for raw materials.
"Africa has triumphed against monumental odds before. Africa will triumph again," said Odinga, who has unsuccessfully vied for Kenya's presidency.
South Sudan plunged into war in December 2013, barely two years after independence from Sudan, after a disagreement between President Kiir and his former Deputy Riek Machar deteriorated into a military confrontation.
Thousands have been killed by the fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces loyal to Machar.
The conflict has also left a quarter of the country’s population of 12 million either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries.