South Sudanese President Salva Kiir agreed to allow seven ruling party leaders earlier accused of treason to return to the party and its affiliated institutions

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir agreed to allow seven ruling party leaders earlier accused of treason to return to the party and its affiliated institutions, a party official said Thursday.

Suzanne Jambo, foreign affairs chief for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), said Kiir had met the seven party leaders on Tuesday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and approved their return to the SPLM.

She expected Kiir's decision to bridge gaps between the seven party leaders and the South Sudanese presidency.

The seven were arrested last December after Kiir accused them of helping his sacked vice-president, Riek Machar, stage a coup attempt against his administration.

The seven include some prominent political figures, such as Pagan Amum Okech, Oyai Deng Ajak and Majak D'Agoot.

In March, however, Juba, citing "public interest," dropped the charges against the party leaders.

Jambo, saying the SPLM simply wanted peace and unity in South Sudan, did not say when exactly the seven leaders would be allowed to reassume their posts in the ruling party.