Sudanese president says to release children detained among rebel groups

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday decided to release all children who have been detained among the rebel groups and pledged to consider the files of other prisoners.

The released children will be handed over to the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security for rehabilitation, al-Bashir said at a ceremony in El-Fashir town to declare the end of 13 years of conflict in Darfur.

He called on the armed movements to return to peace in the country, announcing a pardon for rebel movements if they opt for peace.

"We welcome whoever lay down their weapons -- those who fought in South Sudan and Libya. I agreed with the Chadian president to work for achieving security and peace in Central Republic of Africa," he added.

He hailed the efforts of the Regional Authority to implement Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

He further commended the Qatari government's efforts to achieve peace in Darfur.

Earlier in the day, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in El-Fashir to participate in the celebrations marking the implementation of the Doha-brokered peace deal signed in 2011.

The Darfur peace deal, known as Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), was signed on July 14, 2011 between the government and the Liberation and Justice (LJM) led by El Tijani al-Sisi.

However, major movements such as Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation movements, led by Abdul-Wahid Nur and Mini Arku Minawi, have not joined the agreement as yet. Endit