Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir delivers a speech during a visit to the village of Shattaya in South Darfur on September 22, 2017. (AFP Photo)

KHARTOUM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Sunday issued a decree to extend the ceasefire in all conflict zones until December, the official SUNA news agency reported.

"Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir issued a Republican Decree Sunday evening extending the ceasefire in the country until December 2017," the report said.

The extension of the ceasefire aims at preparing for negotiations on the two areas, including South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as part of the government's keenness to achieve peace and stability in the country and turn to address development issues, it added.

In January, Sudan adopted a unilateral six-month ceasefire a few days after the U.S. government decided to partially lift the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan for about 20 years.

In July, al-Bashir decided to extend the declared ceasefire in all conflict zones for three months.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011, where many rounds of peace talks held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa failed to end the conflict.

The Sudanese government has also been fighting armed groups in the Darfur region since 2003.