Top officers representing renegade commander George Athor Gei signed a ceasefire with the South Sudan Army.
Mr. Athor was not present at the signing ceremony that took place in Juba yesterday evening.Mr. Athor, who lost his bid for the governorship of Jonglei in the April 2010 elections, said the results were rigged and took up arms against the SPLM.
Last October GoSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit granted him and his men a presidential pardon through an amnesty to all armed groups who committed crimes against the people of South Sudan.
However, in mid-December forces loyal to Mr. Athor clashed with the SPLA in the bushes of Jonglei state and killed a dozen of soldiers and wounded scores.
In December, ECS Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul and Catholic Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak met with Mr. Athor in his hideout to assure him that he would not be arrested if he accepted the presidential pardon.