Opposition Ummah party lauds extension of cease-fire pact

Al-Khartoum daily newspaper on September 23, 2003

The [opposition] National Ummah party has welcomed the extension of an agreement for the cessation of hostilities between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement which was signed yesterday in Naivasha, Kenya.

The party considered it a new step in reaching a comprehensive peace between the two sides.

The vice-chairman of Ummah party, Umar Nur al-Daim, said in a press statement to Al-Khartoum newspaper that the progress which has been made in the current negotiations between the [vice-president, Ali Uthman Muhammad] Taha and [leader] of SPLM, John Garang, has revealed the lack of seriousness in previous talks between the two sides starting with Addis Ababa [Ethiopia] to Kenya. He expected the talks to come out with good results for the people of Sudan.

Al-Daim, urged the two sides to transcend the security arrangements which has taken a long time and that it should be resolved in order for other issues to be discussed. He appreciated the role being played by IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] partners, the regional and international community to realize peace in Sudan.

He pointed out the contacts being made between the two sides showing their commitment to end the conflict in the country.

He added that the SPLM leader is in communication with the leader of Ummah party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, and the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party [DUP], Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani, in order to inform them of the unfolding events.