Hope for Darfur peace talks as rebel alliance agrees to UN-backed ceasefire

ONE of the biggest remaining Darfur rebel alliances yesterday said it would respect a ceasefire and was ready to resume peace talks with Sudan’s government.

Peace talks have faltered in the past with only one of three main rebel factions — the Minnawi wing of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) — signing a deal in June 2006, and entering government.

Although commanding the largest force, the Minnawi faction of the SLA does not have the same popular support as the National Redemption Front (NRF), which has agreed to a ceasefire after talks with UN and African Union (AU) representatives.