Sudan declares 4-month comprehensive ceasefire in disputed areas

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Friday declared a comprehensive four-month ceasefire at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, to begin as of Saturday, official SUNA news agency reported.

"Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has announced a new ceasefire at the operation areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas for four months as of Saturday, June 18, 2016," the report said.

"The announcement came as a goodwill gesture to avail the opportunity for the non-signatory rebel movements to join the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD)," it said.

And it is a renewal for the call by the President of the Republic for all the political forces and armed movements to join the national dialogue before the convocation of the general assembly of the national dialogue on the 6th of coming August," it added.

Earlier Sudan's Higher Coordination Committee of the National Dialogue (7+7 mechanism) has determined August 6 as the date for convening the general assembly of the national dialogue conference to approve the final recommendations of the dialogue.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, which is fighting the Sudanese government at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas, refuses to join the national dialogue conference which has been convened in Khartoum since October last year.

The SPLM has also refused to sign a road-map proposed by the African Union to achieve a lasting peace in the two regions. Endit