ADDIS ABABA
By Mohamed Taha Tawakel
Direct talks between South Sudan's warring rivals began Monday in the Ethiopian capital.
The meeting between representatives of President Salva Kiir and sacked vice-president Reik Machar marks the first face-to-face talks face between the two delegations since the start of proxy talks on Wednesday.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since mid-December, when Kiir accused Machar of standing behind a failed coup attempt against him.
A subsequent government crackdown landed many of Machar's supporters in jail, but he managed to flee to Jonglei State, a stronghold of his Nuer tribe.
In the fighting that has been raging ever since, more than 190,000 people have reportedly been displaced.
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