A unilateral and immediate ceasefire in Darfur, including a call for the disarming of militias in the region, was announced by President Omar al-Bashir yesterday – a move rejected by antigovernment rebel groups as a propaganda stunt.

“I announce our immediate, unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions provided that an effective monitoring mechanism be put into action and be observed by all involved parties,” Mr al-Bashir said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering whether to issue an indictment against the President for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Mr al-Bashir was speaking after hearing the recommendations of a peace initiative that his Government sponsors but which has excluded Darfur’s rebel factions.

Referring to the notorious Arab militias that the Government is accused of backing, he called for “an immediate campaign to disarm the militias and restrict the use of weapons amongst armed forces”. Rebel leaders rejected any immediate ceasefire, dismissing Mr Bashir’s announcement as insincere. “We cannot ceasefire for free,” said Suleiman Sandal, deputy general commander of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). “This Government is not serious about peace . . . and is preparing for war on all fronts.”

Previous ceasefires have failed to end the fighting in Darfur and all prior attempts at peace talks have collapsed. Mr al-Bashir made a similar ceasefire declaration in October last year, which came to nothing, but the case before the ICC has increased international pressure on him.

Gamal Nkrumah, an expert on African affairs in Cairo, described the announcement as “window dressing” from Mr al-Bashir.

Since February 2003 Sudanese civilians have been caught up in the fighting between the army and militias who are attempting to crush an insurgency by Darfuri rebels seeking a greater share of power and wealth.

The Arab-speaking militias, known as the Janjawid, meaning devils on horseback, are blamed for widespread murder and rape, the forcing of civilians from their homes and the razing of villages. Rebel factions are accused of similar crimes. The staggering toll of up to 300,000 dead and 2.5 million homeless, according to the UN, dwarfs other conflicts on the continent.

Official Sudanese Government estimates, however, claim that only 10,000 people have died since the conflict erupted in 2003.

In July the ICC chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, sought an indictment against Mr al-Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Khartoum reacted angrily to the move – the first against a sitting head of state – and mounted a diplomatic charm offensive hoping to have the threat of an indictment suspended.

The ceasefire is the latest attempt to win over critics and follows the arrest of some of those held responsible for the fighting. The African Union and the Arab League have appealed to the UN to delay any decision on whether to indict Mr al-Bashir.

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