Arabic Media

October 25, 2022

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Op/Ed: Regrettable Rebels Behavior to Prolong Darfur Crisis

• It is regrettable that six of the rebel groups meeting in Juba decided not to attend Darfur peace talks in Libya despite Egyptian, Libyan, and United Nations efforts to convene this crucial meeting, and despite announcement by Khartoum government to observe a ceasefire during the talks as a goodwill sign
• The real reason for such an action is these groups’ inability to forgo their narrow and limited ambitions for the sake of the millions who are suffering either in refugee camps throughout Darfur or in neighboring countries; not the withdrawal of South Sudan ministers from Khartoum as they claim
• Darfur crisis will not be resolved by finding excuses to justify not attending peace talks but by sitting down at the negotiating table and presenting and defending legitimate demands within the context of a united Sudan

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebel Groups to Send 3 Leaders to Libya to Argue for Postponing Peace Talks
By: Abdul Wahid Libini

• Darfur rebel groups meeting in Juba to work on a common negotiating platform agreed to send 3 rebel representatives to Libya to argue for postponing upcoming peace talks in order to give them more time to unite
• These groups’ boycott cast a shadow of doubt on peace talks in Libya and threatens to derail chances for peace in Darfur
• Jar Ennabi Abdul Karim, Sudan Liberation Movement field leader, said that groups meeting in Juba decided to go to Libya peace talks only when they have formed one unified group and represented one negotiating group, and after government forces ended security violations
• Meanwhile, Ibrahim Wadaah of Justice and Equality Movement criticized AU and UN method for designating which rebel groups to invite

Source: Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: 8 Darfur Rebel Groups Refuse to Attend Libya Peace Talks

• Arab diplomat doubted that Darfur peace talks in Libya would take place after many rebel groups announced they will not be attending it
• Rebel leaders such as Abdul Wahid Nour demanded a ceasefire, international force deployment, Janjaweed militia disarmament, and expulsion of Arabs tribes from Niger before his movement would discuss peace with Khartoum government
• Despite these strong signs that indicate the talks will not take place, Egyptian minister of foreign affairs and Arab League secretary general are planning to go to Libya on Saturday

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebel Groups to Boycott Libya Peace Talks
By: Baleegh Hasballah

• Libyan leader called for a regional summit ahead of planned Darfur peace talks while 8 Darfur rebel groups announced they will boycott these talks
• Rebel leaders meeting in Juba announced they will send three representatives to Libya in the next 48 hours to argue for postponing the talks in order to give their factions enough time to work on forming a unified group and adopting a common negotiating platform

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur War Forces Women to Take Up Arms
By: Farah Ambda

• Haja Zahra Abkar, a well-known and successful restaurant owner in South Darfur, was pessimistic about the prospects of peace in Darfur because of hardened positions that forced even women to join the fighting
• She indicated that some of her educated female relatives and many other women took up arms and either joined the rebel groups or government forces because of what happened during the first years of the crisis
• People have now become familiar with seeing young fighters with weapons, but the presence of women among rebel groups that are fighting the central government and those who have signed a peace agreement is a little known fact to many
• Adam Haqar from Sudan Liberation Movemment – Minnawi group said his movement does not distinguish between male and female fighters
• Unlike women fighters in South Sudan, Darfur women to take up arms because of tribal honor and pride.  In Darfur, recruiters on both sides used tribal pride and loyalty to recruit fighters including females
• This loyalty and pride is what Haja Abkar meant when she referred to “the tribal devil” as she tried to explain what would force an educated women to abandon school and take up arms

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Eliasson Urges Darfur Rebels to Attend Libya Peace Talks and UN Security Council Demands Ceasefire in Darfur

• UN Security Council issued a non-binding resolution calling for action against any party that sabotages peace talks by not observing a ceasefire, disrupts peace talks, or humanitarian aid
• Meanwhile, UN envoy Jan Eliasson urged Darfur rebel leaders who announced that they would not attend peace talks in Libya to change their minds adding that these leaders have ample time to form a common negotiating strategy
• At the same time, rebel leaders who are not boycotting the talks started arriving in Libya

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Regional Summit in Libya and 6 Rebel Groups to Boycott Peace Talks
By: Ismail Adam

• Leaders of Libya, Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, and Egypt are expected in Libya today to discuss the situation in Darfur ahead of Darfur peace talks to be held in Libya starting October 27
• Sudanese government announced that its negotiating team was ready and will be authorized to make any decisions to achieve peace with Darfur rebels
• But 6 factions of Sudan Liberation Movement meeting in Juba announced they will not attend the peace talks in Libya till they reach an agreement to unite their factions and go to the talks as one group
• In addition, it was not clear whether Justice and Equality Movement will attend
• Meanwhile, Sudanese President Al Bashir and African Union leader Alpha Omar Connary discussed the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, and preparation for peace talks in Libya

Read the above in Arabic.