Western diplomats in South Sudan say they will not attend a meeting convened by President Salva Kiir to discuss a roadmap to implement the country's peace agreement.
South Sudan's foreign affairs ministry sent invitations to all diplomatic missions, and regional and international non-governmental organisations accredited to South Sudan to attend the Thursday event that will be presided by the president.
However, the heads of missions of the US, the UK and Norway - known as the Troika for South Sudan - wrote to President Kiir expressing regret that they would not attend.
The diplomats say they had previously written to the president to express their profound concern that the consultations must include civil societies.