Delegates of the government, the SPLM in Opposition, and the former detainees say they have agreed on all issues on permanent ceasefire and security arrangements.

The three sides have been meeting in Addis Ababa since last week.

The security arrangements are part of a peace agreement signed in August to resolve the conflict.

According to IGAD mediators, there will be almost 5,000 soldiers from both sides in Juba during the transitional period. The government will have more than 3,400 while the SPLM in Opposition will have 1,410 soldiers.

They have also agreed to have a joint police force of 1,500 officers and that the advance teams of the detainees and the opposition will be in Juba mid this month for the implementation.

All the parties have hailed the agreement as the beginning of the implementation.

“Today, we have set the phase onward; we started the implementation as we move from here. And with this, I hope this will be the last meeting here in Addis because, from now onwards, we are transferring the implementation of the agreement to South Sudan,” said Michael Makuei, government spokesman and a member of the delegation.

IGAD mediators, who have been mediating the talks for almost two years now say the international community will support the implementation of the peace agreement.