ADDIS ABABA

The African Union has urged Sudan's armed movements to urgently sign the Roadmap Agreement proposed by its mediators for the sake of peace in the country, an official statement said Thursday.

The agreement was signed Monday between the government of Sudan and the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

"The chairman of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, calls upon these parties to urgently sign the agreement, and at the latest by March 28, in order to give impetus to a process that shall lead to the settlement of Sudan’s multiple conflicts," the union said in a statement.

Dlamini-Zuma also urged the parties "to desist from making any unhelpful public statements, so as to avoid jeopardizing what they have committed to achieving; namely lasting peace in Sudan".

He also hailed the government of Sudan for signing the agreement.

However, the armed movements, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -- North (SPLM – North), the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army-Mini Minawi (SLM/A-MM), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the National Umma Party (NUP) have not signed the agreement so far.

The agreement calls for an all-inclusive national dialogue, cessation of hostilities and a permanent cease-fire as well as providing humanitarian access to people affected by ongoing conflicts in the east African country.

The Sudanese government and armed rebels have been meeting since 2011 when the two sides agreed to seek political dialogue to sort out their differences after a major conference in the Qatari capital of Doha.