Arab Media

December 27, 2022

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: SPLM and Arab Tribe Agree to End Hostilities and China Rejects Responsibility for Crisis in Darfur
By: Abdul Wahid Libini

• Arab tribe Al Msiriya and SPLM agreed to end hostilities in Kordofan area.  They insisted they would resort to arms only in case of self-defense
• Umma Party leader Sadok Al Mahdi blamed the chaos in all of Sudan on Khartoum’s short-sighted policies
• Meanwhile, China rejected international pressure and accusations that it was responsible for the government’s actions, killings, and crimes in Darfur

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Comical Situation Surrounding Hybrid Force Deployment in Darfur
By: Tariq Fathi

• No one expected how comical situation surrounding Darfur hybrid force deployment would become: days before the force’s 26,000 troops were supposed to be in Darfur, and United Nations still unable to provide necessary equipment and helicopters to transport them to Darfur
• The United Nations, which often blames Sudan whenever Darfur situation deteriorates, failed to convince any country to provide a single helicopter
• Zalmay Khalil Zad, US envoy to the United Nations, warned Sudan that it “has no right to choose which country to participate in the hybrid force”
• The real problem, however, is not who participates but “how these troops will get to Darfur”

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Chadian Prosecutor Argues for French Suspects’ Imprisonment

• Chadian prosecutor called for 7 to 11 years of prison for each of L’Arche de Zoe officials.  The officials were accused by Chadian government of “attempting to kidnap and illegally transfer 103 Chadian children to France”
• L’Arche de Zoe officials denied the charges and explained that they were interested in providing better future to the children after they were convinced by locals that they were orphans

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Al Bashir Appoints 16 Ministers and Advisors from SPLM
By: Baleegh Hasballah

• Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir appointed 16 ministers and advisors from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, thus ending a government crisis that lasted months
• One of major surprises of this government reshuffle was the elimination of former minister of foreign affairs Lam Akul and his replacement with his archrival Pagan Amum

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: 8 Years of Hard Labor for L’Arche de Zoe Members and France Prepares for Their Transfer to France

• 6 members of L’Arche de Zoe were sentenced to 8 years of hard labor in Chad for attempting to take 103 children – they believed to be orphans – to France without proper authorization
• Meanwhile, French authorities announced they were working on securing the transfer of the convicted members to France in accordance with a 1976 agreement between the two countries that allows such transfer

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: News of Large Government Attack in Darfur
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudan Tribune website reported that Abdul Wahid Nour of SLM accused Sudanese army of launching a large offensive using 4,000 troops and attack planes against his forces’ positions near Mura Mountain in Darfur
• This report was categorically denied by the military, which indicated that it was still committed to the ceasefire
• Meanwhile, JEM declared Darfur area near the border with Chad “close to all visits without its permissions”