Unity government for South Sudan

In a move to end civil war in Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan rebels and government representatives held their first meeting.

The rival factions are expected to create a transitional government of a peace plan signed in August.

The Head of the East African mediators in a statement warned the delegates of “rhetoric and empty words” during the meeting

“Let us ensure that this is not an empty gesture just for the cameras,” said Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana. “I sincerely hope that 2015 will be the last Christmas celebrated in a context of conflict.”

A delegation from the rebel group arrived on Monday but without its leader Riek Machar to negotiate on a transitional unity government with President Salva Kiir.

“Many are skeptical about the reality of peace.” To remove these “understandable doubts”, “we need concrete measures,” said the Botswana Festus Mogae, who heads the Joint Commission for monitoring and evaluation established by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in East African, to oversee the peace agreement.

The peace agreement was signed to end two decades of civil but the two camps have failed to commit themselves to the document.

The political conflict broke out in December 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel soldiers aligned with former vice president Riek Machar.

This resulted to the deaths of thousands and displacements of more than 2 million people.