Sudan extends cease-fire with armed groups for one more month

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday extended the cease-fire with all armed movements and groups for one more month in all areas of conflict in Sudan.

Al-Bashir announced the extension in a speech on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Sudan's independence.

The Sudanese president also announced the extension of the National Dialogue for another month after it was scheduled to end on Jan. 10.

Early on Sept. 22, al-Bashir declared a comprehensive two-month cease-fire that elapsed on Nov. 22, aiming to encourage the armed groups to take part in the national dialogue.

In January, al-Bashir declared an initiative calling on the opposition parties and the armed groups to join a national dialogue to end the country's crises.

Al-Bashir's invitation found a relative acceptance from political forces but the process faced difficulties that slowed it down.

The armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions refused to join the dialogue, insisting that a parallel forum should be established under the supervision of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan. Endit