Sudan has begun talks to secure a lasting ceasefire in its three war-ravaged regions.
Jibril Bilal, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Spokesman, said on Wednesday in Khartoum that the road-map to peace was signed late on Tuesday in Addis Ababa after the African intermediary agreed to include the movement demands in the agreement.
“This is coming a day after an opposition coalition signed on to a road-map for ending hostilities and achieving political reconciliation.
“The signing of the road-map is a positive step, but the more complex stage will come with talks revolving around a ceasefire and a political solution,’’ he said.
The spokesman said that the road-map, brokered by the African Union, marked the first time the country’s major opposition groups have signed a deal with the government since regional fighting reignited in 2011.
Bilal said that the accord spelled out a process for reaching a permanent ceasefire, endorses a national dialogue between the government and opposition rebel and political groups, and includes provisions for immediate humanitarian assistance.
Khartoum signed the AU plan in March, but opposition groups, many of which call for the overthrow of veteran President Omar al-Bashir, refused at the time to follow suit.
Bilal noted that the signatories to the road-map included many of the country’s most prominent opposition and rebel groups, from JEM and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) to the Umma Party, the largest opposition party.
Government Spokesman, Ahmed Bilal, described the signing as a move towards peace and development.
He said that government welcome the opposition signing of the road-map and that government has begun to engage in negotiations with armed rebels over a ceasefire.
“We are optimistic in the move because it’s important that a ceasefire is reached to stop the war.
Bilal, however, noted that the holdouts to the road-map remain, with the Sudan Liberation Movement, a major rebel force in Darfur, and the country’s communist party refusing to sign.
“We are ready to reach necessary political solutions for the country, but this is tied to the will and desire of the other side, the government, for peaceful solutions.
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