Sudanese rebels ready to cease hostilities

A senior official from the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) has claimed that the rebel group is ready to cease hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. Minni Minawi, Deputy President of the SRF alliance told reporters that the movement wants to participate in a comprehensive process aiming to achieve peace in Sudan. Minawi was participating in an "informal consultation" with foreign diplomats attending a meeting organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) between Sudan's opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) and rebel groups. The dialogue meeting was marred by the decision of the Khartoum authorities to ban representatives of the opposition parties from travelling to Geneva, accusing them of "coordinating with the rebels to overthrow the regime." In a statement released on Wednesday after the conclusion of the discussions, the HD Centre regretted the absence of NCF members and reaffirmed that the purpose of the meeting "was the search for a peaceful resolution to Sudan's conflicts; particularly the building of a national dialogue process in continuation of the meetings held in Geneva one year ago and the symposium held in Khartoum in March 2013; the latter attended by members of the NCP and the political opposition." Minawi, who is also the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction, said they came to Geneva to discuss peaceful means to settle the ongoing crisis in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, adding that they are highly alarmed by the humanitarian situation in the war zones. "The humanitarian situation is our priority and we are willing to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan to allow humanitarian access to the needy in these areas," he said. Minawi condemned the ban imposed on the NCF representatives and reaffirmed this support for the efforts of the HD Centre to organise such meetings with the Sudanese opposition to discuss ways to settle peacefully the ongoing crises in the country. "We are ready to participate in any future meeting the HD Centre organises with the NCF parties because we are committed to a comprehensive process gathering all Sudanese actors including the opposition forces, National Congress Party (NCP), youth groups and civil society organisations." He reiterated that no "sustainable peace" can be achieved in Sudan with partial solutions.