Leaders of the warring SPLM factions on Wednesday agreed to a political deal designed to boost efforts to end the one-year conflict.
The factions include the SPLM, SPLM-In Opposition and the former detainees.
President Salva Kiir and Opposition leader Riek Machar signed the agreement in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha to bring together the rival camps of the ruling SPLM.
The parties agreed to apologize for the violence.
“SPLM Leadership shall make a public apology to the people of South Sudan for what has happened since December 15th 2013,” read the document.
It also said ‘there shall be established new transitional structures of SPLM’.
“In order to ensure peace and security in the country and guarantee public safety, the SPLM calls for the implementation of comprehensive reforms, transformation and professionalization of all the security sector institutions and to ensure that their composition reflects national character.”
Speaking after the deal was signed, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe offered his “congratulations to the SPLM leadership for reaching an agreement to reunify their party for the good of South Sudan.”
The talks were hosted by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and overseen by leaders of neighboring states, including Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni, Uganda.
Another round of IGAD-mediated talks are due on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa next week.