South Sudanese rebels and government negotiators will hold their first face-to-face talks on Sunday, after several days of delay.
The talks are aimed at reaching a ceasefire deal and end weeks of ethnic fighting in the world’s youngest state.
At a ceremonial opening to the talks at a luxury hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, the leaders of the rival delegations hugged, but the faltering start to the negotiations has dampened hopes for a swift end to the violence.
The run-up has been overshadowed by continued clashes between President Salva Kiir’s SPLA government forces and rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar centred on the strategically located town of Bor.
The talks will focus on when and how to roll out the ceasefire that both sides have agreed to in principle, though neither has indicated a start date.
The clashes has already killed more than 1,000 people, and driven many from their homes .
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