Sudan’s government committed to ceasefire accord on Darfur

KHARTOUM, April 9 (AFP) — The Sudanese government on Friday pledged to uphold a ceasefire agreement reached with rebels of the west Sudan Darfur region, scene of a conflict that has claimed an estimated 1.5 million lives since 1983.

“It is a tremendous step forward,” said Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail, referring to the peace deal concluded in the Chadian capital Ndjamena on Thursday by the Khartoum government and the two main rebel movements.

State Foreign Minister Al-Tigani Salih Fidhail said the Khartoum government would commit itself to “all provisions of the agreement”.

Speaking on Omdurman radio from Al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur State, Ismail said conditions in Darfur would return to normal with fighting being halted during a renewable 45-day ceasefire.

Ismail called on the world community to help the people in Darfur, where some 670,000 people have been displaced and a further 100,000 have fled across the border into eastern Chad.

On Thursday, the minister began a tour of Darfur region along with the justice minister, state interior minister, health under-secretary, chief of staff and representatives of the UN and the US and French embassies.

The ministers form a committee set up to end security and relief problems and which Ismail said would open safe corridors for relief operations.

Fidhail, who took part in the Ndjamena talks, told Al-Sahafa daily by telephone that the government would observe the ceasefire and humanitarian aid deals that would come into effect next Sunday.

The agreement was signed by all the parties at the talks: the Sudanese government and the two rebel groups — the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

Under the terms of the deal the parties agreed to cease hostilities within 72 hours, for a renewable period of 45 days.

They also agreed to guarantee safe passage for humanitarian aid to the stricken region, to free prisoners of war, and to disarm militias who have been blamed for much of the violence.