Sudanese rebel movement slams government attack amid cease-fire

Rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector has accused government army of mobilizing its forces to attack their bases despite validity of cease-fire, Sudan Tribune reported Tuesday.

The rebel movement questioned the feasibility of the cease-fire, declared by the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on June 17, the report said.

"The declaration of the cease-fire is not but a trick in order to rearrange and reorganize the forces to resume the attacks next summer," Gen. Jagod Mukwar, Chief of General Staff of the SPLM/northern sector, was quoted as saying.

He noted that the declaration of the ceasefire must be translated into active steps with negotiations "in which committees from the two parties and the African Union are formed to monitor the cessation of hostilities."

On June 17, al-Bashir declared a comprehensive four-month cease-fire at South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.

The SPLM/northern sector, which is fighting the Sudanese government at the two regions, refuses to join the national dialogue conference which has been convened in Khartoum since October last year.

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

The African Union has been mediating between the two sides, but failed to achieve any progress in the last round 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