Sudanese opposition groups call to form joint ceasefire monitoring force

September 27, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition Reform Now Movement (RNM) and Union of the Nation’s Forces (UNF) party called on Sunday to form a joint force from the government and rebel groups to implement the ceasefire announced by the Sudanese president last week.

On 22 September , President Omer al-Bashir declared a unilateral ceasefire for two months to create a suitable atmosphere before the dialogue process. But two days later, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N) accuse the Sudanese army of carrying out attacks on the rebel-controlled areas in the Blue Nile state.

Following a meeting held on Sunday, the leaders of RNM and UNF, respectively Ghazi Salahuddin Attabani and Mahmoud Abdel-Gabar, called for the creation of a joint ceasefire commission to be headed by the African Union. They stressed that such step would prove the seriousness of the warring parties to engage in the national dialogue.

The two sides also agreed on the need for the government to commit itself to the African Union roadmap and an agreement that the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) signed with dialogue committee and opposition groups in September 2014.

Abdel Gabar was one of the candidates that ran against the candidate of the ruling Congress Party (NCP) during the presidential race last April. Recently, he issued a number of statements announcing his support for the dialogue process and urged Bashir to exert the needed efforts to hold this historical dialogue conference.

last year, Attabani suspended the RNM participation in the dialogue to protest the government refusal to take confidence building measures creating a conducive environment for the internal political process.

The official news agency SUNA was keen to highlight that the two opposition parties welcomed the presidential decisions announcing a two-month ceasefire and the amnesty for the rebels who join the national dialogue.

The rebel groups say they are ready for a six-month cessation of hostilities, not a ceasefire. Also they stress that the government should accept the African Union road map for the national dialogue national which provides to hold a pre-dialogue meeting with the participation of their allied opposition forces.

(ST)