The Government of Sudan has announced a unilateral cessation of hostilities of four months in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

It follows a similar gesture by the Sudan Revolutionary Front in April 2016, when they declared a unilateral truce of six months. It is imperative now that both parties respect their commitments. An end to fighting would ease the suffering of the local populations and help improve the environment for dialogue leading to a political solution. 
 
The European Union expects both the Government of Sudan and the armed opposition  to work together to translate their respective declarations into a negotiated ceasefire, which must allow with unfettered humanitarian access to all Sudanese citizens affected by the conflict. These measures ultimately need to include the region of Darfur.

All parties should take the opportunity to find a lasting and sustainable solution to Sudan's conflicts. To this end, it is essential that they work closely with the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) towards the achievement of peace and stability for Sudan.