Arabic Media

October 3, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Security Council Condemns Attack on Darfur Force and Washington Threatens to Use Sanctions
By: Ibrahim Al Ashmawi

• US strongly condemned attack on Darfur forces and threatened to impose new sanctions on those who target civilians or hamper UN peace efforts
• UN Security Council also condemned the deadly attack against AU forces, but was unable to issue an official announcement condemning it
• South African UN representative indicated that many in the Security Council, including Qatar and Russia, wanted to label it a terrorist attack because it was evident it was conducted by rebel groups

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Official Warns against Ignoring Any Party during Libya Peace Talks
By: Asma Al Husseini

• Abdullah Masar, President Al Bashir’s advisor, called for participation of all Darfur representatives in Libya peace talks
• He warned that if anyone was left out, the agreement would not be complete and binding and could therefore lead to a bigger conflict
• He insisted on including the groups that signed Abuja agreement, those who rejected it, Darfur tribes – Arab and non-Arab, and Darfur refugees
• He explained that rebel groups were in essence tribal armed groups that turned to politicized armed groups and could not therefore be the only ones invited to the peace talks

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Clinton Urges UN to Take Bigger Role in Darfur

• President Clinton urged UN to play a bigger role in Darfur and to convince China and other countries to stop defending the Sudanese government in Darfur conflict
• The president condemned the attack on AU troops which killed 10 on Saturday arguing the attack will expose the untenable position of the Sudanese government
• He also called for a speedy deployment of a Darfur hybrid force that should be well equipped to defend itself and the civilian population

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Security Council Condemns Attack on AU Force in Darfur

• UN Security Council condemned the attack on AU forces in Darfur and described it as “unacceptable” attempt to destroy peace in Sudan
• Sudanese minister of justice blamed the international community for not punishing the rebel groups for rejecting Abuja agreement
• AU spokesperson Nouredine Al Mazni said some progress was made in the investigation of the attack but he would wait till it is completed before making the findings public
• John Holmes condemned the attack and said that it makes it necessary for the hybrid force to be armed and effective in defending itself and the civilian population
• Organization of Islamic Conference condemned the attack and called on all parties to reach a peace agreement in Libya
• US also condemned the attack and threatened to impose new sanctions on those who target civilians, peacekeeping forces, or hamper a political solution

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: The Group of Elder Statesmen Met with Darfur Representatives in Khartoum
By: Al Haj Muz

• Dr. Adam Mousa of Umma Party indicated that a meeting between the Group of Elder Statesmen headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu met with a number of Darfur representatives
• Dr. Mousa said that the representatives all agreed on characterizing the situation in Darfur except for two who believed it to be just a conflict between Arab and non-Arab tribes and denied charges of rape, killings, and forced displacement
• Darfur representatives suggested holding an umbrella meeting ahead of Libya peace talks to determine the agenda and principles to resolve the conflict
• They also called for inter-Darfuri dialogue and negotiations to ensure any agreement reached in Libya was fully embraced by all

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Norway and Sweden Ready to Send Troops to Darfur

• Norwegian officer indicated that a group of Norwegian and Swedish military engineers were ready to go to Darfur in November to participate in hybrid force, but the offer has not been officially accepted by the African Union
• The officer said the engineers will help build the hybrid force’s bases in addition to any engineering projects such as building roads
• If the offer is accepted, this group will be the best equipped member of the hybrid force
• As for the investigation into the Saturday attack, it believes the attack to be the work of Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdullah Yahia faction, and a recently split group of JEM fighters
• Organization of Islamic Conference condemned the attack and called on all parties to reach a peace agreement in Libya
• US also condemned the attack and threatened to impose new sanctions on those who target civilians, peacekeeping forces, or hamper a political solution
• UN Security Council also condemned the deadly attack against AU forces, but was unable to issue an official announcement condemning it

Read the above in Arabic.