Juba Signs Ceasefire With Rebels İn Jonglei State

South Sudan's government on Monday signed a ceasefire with a rebel group in the oil-rich Jonglei state, the Defense Ministry said.



In a statement, the ministry said that dialogue led by a government panel has been successful.



According to the ministry, rebel leader David Yau Yau agreed to a ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks with the government in the coming period.



The ministry, however, gave no further details on the ceasefire agreement.



Yau Yau, from the Murle tribe, has led a rebellion against the government since 2010 after losing provincial elections.



South Sudan has been shaken by violence since mid-December, when President Salva Kiir accused his sacked vice president Riek Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against him.



A subsequent government crackdown landed many of Machar's supporters in jail, but he managed to flee to Jonglei State, a stronghold of his Nuer tribe.



In the fighting that has been raging ever since, more than 190,000 people have reportedly been displaced.



By Atem Simon



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Cuba