The governor of Sudan’s South Kordofan state said rebels who lay down their weapons should be granted amnesty.

“This year’s Eid al-Fitr represents a new opportunity to renew an amnesty for whoever puts the gun aside and seeks peace," El Faki said in an address to worshippers in Kadugli town Monday.

El Faki said that peace and dialogue with the rebels is still the government’s objective and that Sudanese citizens should remain united.

But he added that the army’s “decisive summer" offensive against the rebels is to thank for what he termed as South Kordofan's improved security situation.

For his part, Sudan’s Minister of Industry Samih El Sadig says the national dialogue initiative, despite its pitfalls, shows a genuine desire by political parties to resolve differences through words.

El Sadig said the joint committees formed to develop a road map for reconciliation between political parties are working tirelessly to ensure peace.

He called on those taking up arms for political ends to join the dialogue rather than continuing thirty years of war.

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