JUBA: South Sudan said yesterday it was ready for a ceasefire and would release eight of 11 senior politicians arrested over an alleged coup plot, raising hopes it was edging towards a deal to end ethnic-based fighting ravaging the world’s newest nation.
There was no immediate reaction from Riek Machar, former vice-president who the government accuses of starting the conflict. “We have agreed in principle to a ceasefire to begin immediately, but our forces are prepared to defend themselves if attacked,” the government said on its Twitter feed.
