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Sudanese rebel movement inclines to one year truce

Xinhua, July 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector has expressed readiness to declare a comprehensive ceasefire for one year if Darfur region included, Sudan tribune reported Friday.

"The movement is ready to talk with the other party to reach a plan that addresses the humanitarian situation at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas and realizes truce, provided that the deal includes Darfur," Yassir Arman, Secretary General of the SPLM/northern sector, was quoted as saying.

Last June 17, the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declared a four-month ceasefire at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.

"Al-Bashir has measured a precise scale for the four months, which is the period of the rains, as his militias and troops cannot fight during the rainy season," added Arman.

He further said that despite the failure of the government army's summer attack, the SPLM/northern sector is ready to immediately agree on reactivation of ceasefire and establish joint mechanisms.

The Sudanese government said earlier that it would not enter into new negotiations with the SPLM/northern sector unless it signs a roadmap proposed by the African Union (AU).

The SPLM/northern sector, which is fighting the Sudanese government at South Kordofan and Blue Nile State, rejected a roadmap deal proposed by the AU to achieve peace at the two areas and Darfur, while Khartoum unilaterally signed the agreement.

The movement also refuses to join the national dialogue conference which has been convened in Khartoum since October last year.

The AU has been patronizing the negotiations between the two sides in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to settle the conflict, but failed to achieve any progress in the last rounds of talks.

South Kordofan State includes most of the Sudanese oil reserve, while the Blue Nile state enjoys a strategic geographical location, and is rich of natural resources. It is also home to Al-Rusaires, the biggest electricity dam in Sudan. Endit