Sudan’s President Omar al Bashir has announced the extension of the unilateral ceasefire with the rebels to the end of March. The ceasefire was decreed in October after the United States lifted 20-year sanctions tied to progress on progress on counter-terrorism cooperation and on resolving internal conflicts.
The ceasefire was declared in Kordofan and Blue Nile regions in clashes between the army and the rebels that broke out in 2011 after South Sudan declared independence. The ceasefire has been viewed as the first step to ensuring that the stability of Sudan is withheld and ending the close to two-decade war between the government forces and non-Arab tribes rebels.
