Arabic Media

August 1, 2023

Source:Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)

Headline: United Nations Security Council to Vote on Authorizing Darfur Force

By: Abdul Wahid Libini

United Nations diplomatic source indicated that Britain and France distributed a draft resolution that was adjusted for the fourth time. The draft resolution:

• Calls for the deployment of 26,000 troops
• Expects the mission to cost over $2 billion in its first year
• The force’s mandate is to stop violence in Darfur
• The force is deployed under chapter 7 of UN Charter, which allows it to use “all means necessary to accomplish its mission” and is binding to all UN members
• The force will replace 7,000 poorly-equipped and under-funded African troops
• The forces headquarters to be built no later than October 2007.

Source:Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)

Headline: Darfur Faces Malnutrition Crisis

Irish humanitarian group Concern indicated that malnutrition amongst Darfur children near Al Jenaina – capital of West Darfur - has risen above emergency levels:

• Emergency threshold for Global Acute Malnutrition is 15%, but near Al Jenaina malnutrition amongst under 5 children is 17.4%
• Malnutrition amongst children five years or younger was 12.3 in 2006
• These figures are alarming because the survey comes at the beginning of the “hunger gap” when harvest is not due till October / November
• Children’s health is in worse shape in remote areas because humanitarian groups cannot reach them

Source:Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)

Headline: United Nations Security Council Unanimous Vote for Darfur force

United Nations Security Council unanimously approved resolution 1769 which authorizes deployment of hybrid force in Darfur:

• 26,000 United Nations – African Union troops to be deployed in Darfur to prevent violence
• The mission will cost $2 billion in the first year
• The force is deployed under chapter 7 of UN charter
• The force will stop the violence against civilians, refugees, humanitarian aid and aid workers, and itself
• It will replace 7,000 African Union troops
• Belgium, Britain, Congo, France, Italy, Peru, and Slovakia are expected to take part in the hybrid force
• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said vote signals international community concern, and added
• Hybrid force cannot succeed without cooperation by Sudanese forces and government
• British UN envoy warned Sudanese government against lack of cooperation

Source:Al Arabiya (Dubai-based Pan Arabic News channel with over 15 million viewers)

Headline: United Nations Security Council Authorizes Largest Peacekeeping force for Darfur

United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for resolution 1769:

• It authorizes 26,000 hybrid African Union – United Nations peacekeeping force
• The hybrid force will replace 7,000 African troops
• Belgium, Britain, Congo, France, Italy, Peru, and Slovakia are expected to take part in the hybrid force
• The forces’ headquarters must be finished by October 31, 2022
• French diplomat indicated that British and French UN envoys worked closely with Sudanese envoy to finalize the draft resolution put to vote

Source:Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)

Headline: 34 Killed in Inter-Tribal Fighting in Darfur

At least 34 people have been killed in the latest clashes between rival Arab tribes:

• Mohamed Hammad Jalabi, head of Torjum tribe, said “these clashes, coming after last week clashes, killed 34 and wounded 38 of our people”
• Jalabi explained that Abala tribe members attacked his tribe’s land west of Nyala from four directions in attempt to drive his people out
• He added that fighting continued a whole day before the army intervened

Read the above in Arabic.