ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia confirmed this week that they and the Benishangul People's Liberation Movement (BPLM) had inked a peace deal last week to end two decades of militant activity in Sudan. It is part of Ethiopia's continued efforts to mediate peace in Sudan and South Sudan. Ethiopia Minister of Federal Affairs Shiferaw Teklemariam and Jafar Mustafa, deputy chairperson of the BPLM, signed the peace accord last Wednesday in Addis Ababa. The breakthrough was reached following two years of negotiations, government officials were reported as saying by Sudan Tribune. It is the second rebel group to agree to a peace deal with Ethiopia. In 2005, the group also reached a peace deal with Ethiopian government which they broke a year later, resuming its armed struggle from its base in neighboring Sudan. Following the signing ceremony Shiferaw called on the group's leadership “for commitment in the implementation of the agreement,” urging them “not to bend to pressures from other external forces.” Mustafa assured the minister that the “leadership of the movement would adhere to the deal and would work towards implementing it.” According to Sudan Tribune, “since its establishment 17 years ago the BPLM has been carrying out cross-border attacks, mainly against developmental facilities in the Benishangul Gumuz state bordering Sudan.” There are numerous allegations that the Sudanese government has ties with the BPLM.
