Temporary ceasefire becomes effective

A temporary ceasefire agreement between the government of Sudan and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) came into force at midday on Thursday, a source close to the peace talks taking place in Machakos, Kenya, told IRIN. He confirmed that every unit of soldiers on the rebel side had been ordered to observe the ceasefire except in self-defence. "Unfortunately there is no monitoring system in place, but any violations will be reported immediately to the mediators of the peace talks," he added. The memorandum declaring the ceasefire, signed on 15 October, committed both parties to suspending hostilities throughout Sudan for the duration of the latest round of talks, and to ensuring a military stand-down of their respective forces, "including allied forces and affiliated militia," Samson Kwaje, an SPLM/A spokesman, told IRIN on Tuesday. Formal peace negotiations are due to resume next week. On Wednesday, the mediators at the talks had given both delegations in Machakos a draft protocol on power-sharing, with two days to provide a written response to it, a source told IRIN. Sudanese government officials were unavailable for comment. This is the first politically motivated ceasefire agreement signed between the government and rebels in 19 years of civil war.