As the people of South Sudan prepared to celebrate the first anniversary of their independence, Desmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari and Mary Robinson travelled to Ethiopia and South Sudan on 5-10 July 2012.
During their discussions in Addis Ababa and Juba, the Elders urged the leaders of Sudan and South Sudan to pursue the path of peace and make decisive progress in the new round of African Union-chaired talks.