The President of South Sudan Salva Kiir reportedly is willing to meet his former deputy, Riek Machar, who now leads a rebellion against the government. 

Deputy Information Minister Rachel Nyadak Paul told the press after an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers in Juba yesterday that Kiir is ready to meet Riek Machar face-to-face to discuss ways of finding peace in the country.

This comes after a proposal by diplomats for the two sides to meet face-to-face. According to the EU Envoy Alexander Rondos, a group of diplomats visited Machar recently in his base in order to persuade him to accept the proposal. 

File photo: President Salva Kiir