Ceasefire agreed in war-torn South Sudan to start Saturday night

Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, and the leader of rebel forces led by his former deputy, Riek Machar have agreed a ceasefire to come into effect by Saturday night.

The deal should bring to an end fighting that has raged in South Sudan since December and which has threatened to spiral into genocide. Thousands of civilians are estimated to have died.

Kiir and Machar, meeting in Ethiopia, agreed to a “transitional government” and said it offered the “best chance” for the country to recover. The pair shook hands and prayed together during the meeting, their first since December.