The agreement comes after several rounds of talks in the capital of southern Sudan between a delegation from the Begja Congress and SPLM leaders which started three weeks ago.

"All offices and political secretariats will be merged," said Bawanin, "and common action will be conducted in all spheres, political, developmental, and reconstruction, in eastern Sudan between us and the SPLM under the name of the Begja Congress in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement."

"It has been agreed to engage together in facing the next phase in Sudan, the phase of elections and democratic transformation," he added.

"We will take on this phase as one cohesive alliance in all areas of political activity for the two sides in the eastern states of east Sudan."

Work is currently underway to draft a written agreement to be signed at a ceremony that will be held in Juba and followed by another ceremony in Khartoum to which Sudanese political figures and representatives of political parties and international and regional organizations will be invited.