( CNN ) -- Rebels in the Central African Republic -- who took over numerous towns and threatened to overrun the capital -- will be part of a unity government under that nation 's embattled president , a government spokesman said Friday . The apparent deal would appear to end violence that began last month , when the Seleka rebel coalition launched an offensive as they demanded President Francois Bozize step down after accusing him of reneging on a peace deal . As the insurgency advanced in the nation 's north and neared the capital of Bangui , Bozize urged the international community , including the United States and France , to help fend off the rebellion . He also engaged in peace negotiations , including those this week involving the Seleka and opposition party leaders in Gabon 's capital , Libreville . These talks ended Friday with an agreement to form a `` government of national unity '' headed by Bozize , said Jules Gauthier Ngbapo , a spokesman for the Central African Republic 's decentralization and territorial administration ministry . `` Seleka rebels and ... opposition ( party ) leaders agreed to select the prime minister , '' said Ngbapo , who added that there will be new legislative elections in a year . Bozize , the soon-to-be named prime minister and Cabinet members can not run in the next election , said Margaret Vogt , a special representative of the U.N. secretary-general . The rebels want 400 South African troops deployed to the Central African Republic to `` withdraw progressively , '' Ngbapo said . South African President Jacob Zuma announced Sunday that his nation 's troops would `` assist with capacity building '' of the Central African Republic 's military , which was then fighting a still vibrant insurgency . The new government and the other changes were expected imminently . A cease-fire -- expanding on one that Ngbapo , earlier Friday , said would be in effect for a week -- goes into effect `` within 72 hours '' of the parties signing the deal , said Vogt . `` We are hopeful that the agreements that have been signed today in Libreville will contain the immediate flare-up and will calm the situation ... and enable us to recalibrate the disarmament process , '' Vogt said from New York , where the United Nations is based . At the same time , the U.N. official warned the lack of introspection -- and corrective action -- regarding why past agreements were n't fully implemented `` may lead to another meltdown a few years down the line . '' This sentiment was echoed by the office of European Union foreign affairs representative Catherine Ashton . `` Such an agreement is the first step out of the crisis , '' Ashton 's office said . `` To be sustainable , the normalization and stabilization of the country in the longer term requires the underlying causes of the outbreak of recurrent conflicts in the Central African Republic to be addressed in a consensual way by all stakeholders . '' The deal comes after fits and starts in the peace process in recent weeks , which were marked by fighting interspersed by indications both sides were open to dialogue . For instance , Ngbapo said rebel fighters attacked two towns last Saturday -- a few days before their leaders were set to join Bozize , as well as the presidents of Gabon , Chad , Equatorial Guinea , Guinea and the Republic of Congo , in Libreville . CNN was unable to confirm government claims about the occupation of the towns . As the government scrambled to put down the rebellion , UNICEF representative Souleymane Diabate said `` reliable sources '' had told his U.N. agency `` that children are newly being recruited '' by rebel groups and pro-government militias . Armed groups were forcing people younger than 18 to fight , carry supplies and serve as sex slaves , the agency said last Friday . About 300,000 children have been affected by the rebellion , including family separation , sexual violence , displacement and lack of access to education and health facilities , the agency said . CNN 's Karen Smith contributed to this report .
Central African Republic rebels launched an offensive last month , upset at their defeat . They had captured several towns in the nation 's north and threatened the capital , Bangui . Under the peace agreement , the rebels and opposition party leaders will pick a prime minister . EU and U.N. officials laud deal , but say sides must address other issues for a lasting peace .