Arabic Media

October 18, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Libya Praises Egypt’s Role to End Darfur Clashes and Denies Postponing upcoming peace talks
By: Abdul Wahid Libini and Saeed Al Ghareeb

• Libya’s minister for African Affairs, Ali Triki, denied Darfur peace talks were postponed
• He insisted that efforts were underway to hold the talks on time, adding that African Union and United Nations were responsible for choosing and inviting the different groups
• Triki praised Egypt’s efforts to ensure the talks’ success

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Armed Men Kill 3 World Food Program Drivers in Darfur

• World Food Program reported 3 of its drivers were killed by armed men in south Darfur, an area that saw many attacks in recent days
• World Food Program Country Director Kino Oshidari said “we are deeply saddened and shocked by the killing of these brave men, who knew the dangers they were facing but continued to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering and bring food to the hungry in Darfur”
• The drivers contracted to the World Food Program through a private Sudanese company were killed in two incidents in south Darfur. One attack on Tuesday killed two men near the towns of Haskanita and Muhajiria where recent assaults on civilians and African Union forces left tens of people dead
• The other driver was shot on the road between Niyala and Al Fasher

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: 3 Darfur Rebel Groups Form a Coalition ahead of Libya Peace Talks
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• African Union and United Nations intermediaries presented peace talks agenda to Darfur rebel leaders gathered in Juba
• The presentation included wealth and power sharing, humanitarian issues, guarantees and mechanism for agreement implementation, how the talks will be conducted, opening session details, who will be invited, and civil society participation
• Rebel groups that responded to SPLM invitation met to work on a common position during upcoming peace talks
• 3 of the 5 groups present in Juba - groups headed by Jar Annabi, Siddig Abdul Karim, and Mohamed Clay - decided to form a coalition and urged the other two groups – SLM Unity group and JEM United command - to join
• Other rebel groups were expected to arrive in Juba except for Abdul Wahid Nour who turned down the invitation

Read the above in Arabic.