By Opheera McDoom KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan declared on Wednesday a "permanent ceasefire" in conflict-ridden states, with a major rebel movement accusing government forces of continuing to bomb their positions.
Juba is hosting talks between the government of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdouk and representatives of two main armed movements, including smaller movements, who fought the forces of ousted President Omar al-Bashir in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said it would not continue talks unless the government withdrew from the fighting zone in the Nuba Mountains.
She said Sudanese forces had continued to attack their territory over the past 10 days despite an informal ceasefire.
On Wednesday evening, the head of the Sudanese Transitional Council, General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, declared a permanent ceasefire in the three conflict zones.
The sovereign council - in a statement - that "General Abdel Fattah Burhan announced a permanent ceasefire; to confirm the commitment of the government to peace," and continued that "the ceasefire has been in force since the signing of the declaration."
Sudanese government spokesman Mohammed Hassan attributed the fighting to attacks on local cattle herders.
"The government regrets and condemns in the strongest terms these unfortunate events that are happening in the region, and in some other parts of the country."
Postpone negotiations
In a related context, the leadership of the mediation committee for the Sudan negotiations in Juba yesterday decided to postpone direct negotiations between the delegations of the government and the SPLM-North sector headed by Abdul Aziz al-Hilo 24 hours.
This came according to a statement issued by the Council of Sovereignty in Sudan, explained that the postponement was due to a protest by the SPLM against the Sudanese government accusing it of violating the ceasefire in the recent events that took place in Khor Alorl area in South Kordofan (South), according to the source same.
"The mediation has decided to postpone further consultations between the parties to address the matter," the statement added. The mediation appealed to both parties to remain calm and restrained to allow for an atmosphere of peace and reconciliation.
Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the Sudanese peace mediation committee, Tut Qalwak, told reporters that events would not stop the negotiation process between the government and the SPLM-N.
He stressed that "individual breaches will not stop the negotiation process, we announced the schedule and we will continue talks this evening with the factions of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front."
It is noteworthy that the official talks between the government and the Sudanese armed movements started last Monday in the capital Juba, in the presence and participation of a number of heads of state in the region, who supported the initiative of President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, to bring peace in Sudan.
Salva Kiir had taken the initiative of mediating between the Sudanese military council and the armed movements after the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir last April, to close the file of the conflict, and to reach a peaceful settlement that enhances the chances of democratic transition in the country.