Khartoum to hold peace talks with three rebel movements

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM

The Sudanese government and three different rebel groups are set to begin cease-fire talks in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

The talks come one day after four Sudanese opposition groups signed a roadmap agreement proposed by African Union (AU) mediators for finding a peaceful solution to Sudan’s long-simmering conflict.

The African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) confirmed that direct talks -- which will tackle a proposed cessation-of-hostilities agreement in Darfur and humanitarian access to rebel-controlled parts of Sudan’s conflict-ridden South Kordofan and Blue Nile states -- have been scheduled for Tuesday.

According to the AUHIP, the talks will be attended by representatives of the U.S. (including U.S. special envoy to Sudan Donald Booth), the EU and the AU.

On Monday, four Sudanese opposition groups signed a roadmap agreement proposed by AU mediators for reaching peace in Sudan.

The agreement calls for all-inclusive national dialogue, a cessation of hostilities and a permanent cease-fire, as well as humanitarian access to populations affected by Sudan’s ongoing conflicts.

"We are looking forward to reaching permanent peace in Sudan and putting an end to the war," Sadek al-Mahdi, leader of Sudan’s opposition National Umma Party (NUP), said.

"The roadmap represents the starting point for dialogue," he added.

Along with the NUP, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) signed on to the agreement.

Earlier this year, the four groups had refused to sign the deal.

In a joint statement issued this week, however, the groups said they had signed the plan after their reservations were addressed by AU mediators.

The statement went on to call for the convention of a series of preparatory meetings to set the agenda and framework for the upcoming talks.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman, for his part, welcomed the signing of the roadmap agreement by the four groups.

Speaking to reporters late Monday, he said his government was ready to engage in talks with rebel groups with a focus on achieving a cessation of hostilities and guaranteeing humanitarian access to populations affected by conflict.