Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry says South Sudan's Kiir and Machar to meet on Wednesday

Reuters
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir addresses the nation during an independence day event at the Presidential palace in Juba, South Sudan, July 9, 2017. REUTERS/Jok Solomun

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir will meet his rival and former vice president Riek Machar in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, as part of talks to negotiate an end to a civil war that broke out in 2013, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said. "The meeting on South Sudan tomorrow will be held under the auspices of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with the aim of bridging gaps between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar," the ministry statement said, adding that Machar is expected to arrive in Ethiopia's capital on Wednesday from South Africa. (Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Writing by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Catherine Evans)