Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday decided to extend a unilateral ceasefire for nearly four months in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions, state media reported.
President Bashir’s decision to extend the ceasefire from 2 July to 31 October comes days before the US administration is expected to decide whether or not to lift trade embargo on Sudan.
According to SUNA, President Bashir signed on Sunday an order to extend the ceasefire until 31 October.
The US administration is expected to issue a decision on 12 July whether to lift the sanctions imposed on Sudan since 1997 for its alleged support for Islamist militant groups.
Former US president Barack Obama eased the sanctions on Khartoum in January this year, but made their permanent lifting dependent on Sudan's progress in five areas of concern during a six-month review period.
The conditions include halting support for rebels in South Sudan, an end to hostilities in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions, improved access for humanitarian aid, and counterterrorism cooperation with American intelligence agencies.