Sudan rebels request talks to consolidate peace

Sudanese rebels are calling for immediate talks to consolidate the implementation of the ceasefire declared by Omar al-Bashir although they still have doubts about the sincerity of the declaration.

“A mechanism for monitoring and observing the ceasing of hostilities needs to be reached within a comprehensive peace process,” the rebels said in a release.

In the statement, the rebels extended a hand of dialogue to the Sudanese government in negotiations expected to be supervised by the African Union.

“We are calling upon the regime to send a delegation to Addis Ababa immediately to sit with African Union mediators to activate the ceasefire offer,” the rebel group added.

On Friday, Omar al Bashir declared ceasefire on all battlefields and announced a four-month cessation of military operations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile which became effective as of Saturday.

The declared ceasefire is the third by Bashir’s government in less than a year.

The rebel group has also called on president Bashir to take tangible measures in stopping the bombardment of civilians.

Bashir’s government has been battling the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement since 2011.