Sudan rebels extend ceasefire, peace talks resumption ruled out

Three armed rebel movements in Sudan extended their cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur for another six months. President Omar Al Bashir announced a ceasefire for two months, also unilateral, in October.

“The objectives of the extended Cessation of Hostilities are to protect civilians, provide unhindered humanitarian access to war-affected populations, and create a conducive environment for peace,” said yesterday's joint press statement by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

The ceasefire in the three areas of armed conflict runs until 30 April 2017. The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW), however, refuses to take part in the peace process and has not joined its allies in the cessation of hostilities. His movement continues to fight the government in Darfur’s Jebel Marra area.

Speaking at the closing session of the National Dialogue conference on 10 October, Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir declared the extension of the unilateral cessation of hostilities in the war zones for two months. Clashes and aerial bombardments in the three war zones continued during this period.

Rebels' locations demanded

During a new round of talks brokered by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the warring parties failed to reach a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement last August. No date for the resumption of peace talks is announced, but on Monday the government's chief negotiator ruled out the resumption of talks for peace in Darfur soon.

According to the semi-government Sudan Media Center (SMC), Amin Hassan Omar said that the government would not sign any agreement with the Darfur rebel groups unless the coordinates of their locations were disclosed.

(Source: SMC)