ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) said Wednesday evening it welcomed a peace deal reached between the Sudanese government and the country's key rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

    In a statement from the AU headquarters, AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping commended the efforts made by the Qatari government and the joint AU-UN chief mediator, Djibrill Bassole.

    Ping also commended both the Sudanese government and the JEM for the commitment they have shown in the search for a lasting solution to the crisis in Darfur, and congratulated them on concluding this important agreement, the statement said.

    In the statement, he expressed the hope that this achievement "will pave the way for the other Darfurian movements to join the peace process."

    He also expressed the hope that this achievement "will be sustained in the coming weeks," and urged both the Sudanese government and the JEM "to implement fully the agreement in order to create conditions propitious for an all-inclusive political dialogue."

    The AU chief urged all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and observe all existing ceasefire agreements in order to stabilize the security situation and facilitate humanitarian assistance in Darfur.

    The Sudanese government and the JEM signed Tuesday an agreement of goodwill and confidence-building for the settlement of the problem in Darfur in Doha, Qatar, under the auspices of the government of Qatar and Djibrill Bassole.

    The agreement included measures to aid and protect refugees in Darfur and a commitment by both sides to continue negotiations in Doha.

    Last Tuesday, the Sudanese government and JEM delegations started their meeting in the Qatari capital with a view to paving the way for substantive peace negotiations between the government and the rebel group.

    The JEM launched a rebellion in Darfur nearly six years ago and was involved in a recent upsurge of fighting.

    Other influential rebel factions refused to talk to Khartoum, saying the peace drive will fail because they are not all included.