CEASEFIRE DEAL IN SUDAN

The Khartoum government and the largest and most powerful rebel group in restive Darfur have signed a ceasefire agreement and a framework of final peace deal. Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim embraced one another after signing the deal, which came into effect at midnight in Darfur. The signing took place at a huge ceremony in Doha attended by Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno and Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki. The government and the Darfur rebel group also signed a framework accord to launch immediate discussions to reach a final peace agreement by March 15. The breakthrough follows a recent thawing in relations between Sudan and neighbouring Chad, which supports JEM.