KHARTOUM: Sudan’s President Omar Bashir has extended for two months a unilateral cease-fire in the war-torn regions of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, state media said.
The decision, extending the truce to December 31, came days after the US lifted a 20-year trade embargo on Sudan.
Sudan’s official news agency SUNA said Bashir had made the move to show that the government is “keen to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.”
Since June 2016, Bashir has declared several cease-fires in the three regions, where fighting between government forces and rebels has killed tens of thousands of people.
Sudanese officials claim that the conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, has ended, but there are still sporadic reports of clashes.
Sunday’s announcement came just two days after Washington ended a two-decades-old trade embargo imposed on Khartoum over its alleged support for militant groups.
Sudan’s currency strengthened to 18.5 pounds to the dollar from 20.2 on the black market on Sunday, the first day of business since the US lifted the trade sanctions.
The US announcement helped push Sudan’s pound currency to its strongest level on the black market since at least July, when it was sent reeling to around 21.5 pounds to the dollar after the US postponed a final decision on the sanctions relief until October.
“The lifting of sanctions is good news ... but we want to see prices come down, because in the past the government has said that rising prices and reduced services were because of the economic blockade, but now there is no blockade,” said Nawal Ahmed, a 58-year-old government employee.
Prices have also been driven up by cuts in fuel and electricity subsidies the government imposed to save cash.
Currency traders said the stronger pound rate would be short-lived unless banks can start offering dollars again, which they saw as unlikely.
Meanwhile, Sudanese authorities believe a criminal gang is responsible for the abduction of a Swiss humanitarian worker who disappeared outside her home in Darfur on Friday.
Authorities have intensified the search in and around the city of Al-Fashir and believe the gang is looking for a ransom, said North Darfur’s Deputy Governor Mohamed Birama.
“We expect that she will be found very soon,” he said.
Switzerland on Sunday called for a rapid and unconditional release of the woman but did not give any other details about her.
Sudan’s President extends truce in three conflict zones
Sudan’s President extends truce in three conflict zones
