Cease-fire pact between government, Darfur rebels effective 6 September

Sudanese TV September 4, 2003

The Sudanese government and armed groups in Darfur signed an agreement yesterday evening in the Chadian town of Abeche, under the auspices of Chadian government.

Ismat Abd-al-Rahman Zayn-al-Abidin, the commander of Western Military Area, signed on behalf of the government and Abdallah Abbakar signed on behalf of Darfur rebels. The signing ceremony was attended by Abdallah Moussa Abderahmane, the Chadian minister of public security and immigration.

The agreement covered cease-fire, cessation of all operations that contribute to the deterioration of the situation, ways of controlling armed irregular groups and release of all prisoners of war and those detained in connection with the Darfur crisis from both sides.

The agreement stipulated that the two parties should commit themselves to consolidating a comprehensive and permanent peace in the region and that the cease-fire would go into effect on Saturday 6 September for a period of 45 days.

Meanwhile, Chadian President Idriss Deby had blessed the agreement and called on the two parties to resolve their problems through peaceful dialogue. He stressed the need to implement the agreement for the realization of peace in the area.