United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the signing by Sudanese opposition groups of an African Union-brokered roadmap for ending conflicts in the country.

The UN chief called the parties to “maintain this positive momentum” and work towards agreement on cessation of hostilities.

“The Secretary-General is encouraged by this valuable step towards ending the war and resolving the crises in Sudan,” said the statement, adding that the UN chief called on all Sudanese parties to maintain this “positive momentum” and urged them to continue working towards an agreement on cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas and the process for reaching a final, political settlement through an inclusive national dialogue.