Uganda ? Rebels signed a deal Friday with the Uganda government on major steps to end a brutal 20-year insurgency – a step forward in ongoing peace talks that have progressed in fits and starts for more than a year.

The deal came after mediators spent much of the morning trying to convince the rebels to return to the table after they stormed out Thursday.

“We hope this time they will discuss with the government team until the talks come to a conclusion,” Ugandan negotiator Chris Magezi said. The agreement signed Friday sets forth actions the government will take to rehabilitate areas torn apart by the conflict, ensure government and army representation from those areas and promote economic development.