The three parties to the crisis in Darfur, western Sudan began inching toward ending hostilities in the region at peace talks in Abuja Monday. In a draft protocol on the security issue, the government of Sudan and the two rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement, and Army agreed to "refrain from all hostilities and military actions, including aerial bombings". They also agreed tentatively to "strictly abide by the provisions of the Ndjamena and Addis Ababa agreements on ceasefire". They agreed to refrain from any reconnaissance operations, including by air and to also refrain from the deployment, movement or any other action aiming at extending territories under their respective control. The parties equally agreed to refrain from any military activity, which, in view of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee and the African Mission in Sudan undermined the ceasefire agreement signed in Ndjamena in April. The parties also agreed to "enhance and facilitate the implementation of the ceasefire agreement by submitting to the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee and the African Mission in Sudan, the exact locations and strength of their forces on ground for verification within 14 days after signing the protocol. --More 2321 Local Time 2021 GMT
