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South Sudan to Set New Date for Peace Talks With Rebels - Foreign Ministry

© AP VideoSouth Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, and rebel leader Riek Machar, right, shake hands and pray in May 2014.
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, and rebel leader Riek Machar, right, shake hands and pray in May 2014. - Sputnik International
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A South Sudan government delegation will return to the country’s capital Juba to lay the groundwork for a meeting with opposition to settle disputed points in a new peace deal, a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry told Sputnik Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, local media outlets reported that the country’s rival political parties had reached a peace agreement, and the country’s president would sign the deal within 15 days.

"We have not reached a final agreement with the armed opposition headed by Riek Machar. The government delegation will return to Juba to determine a new term for a meeting to settle disputable issues," Mawien Makol told Sputnik.

U.S. President Barack Obama holds a meeting on South Sudan and counterterrorism issues with African heads of state at his hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia July 27, 2015 - Sputnik International
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According to him, a key issue of disagreement is the existence of two armies in the country and a dispute over proposed power-sharing between government and the rebels.

Violence in South Sudan started in late 2013, after President Salva Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. The accusations sparked ethnic attacks, with clashes between government forces and rebel groups ongoing despite a number of ceasefire agreements.

More than 50,000 people have been killed amid the violence, according to the International Crisis Group.

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