Arabic Media

September 11, 2023

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Ban Ki-Moon Optimistic about Darfur Peace Talks

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon returned to New York City feeling optimistic about progress made in Darfur crisis during his week-long visit to Sudan, Chad, and Libya

• He said that “some progress was made, which is encouraging,” but indicated that “more efforts are still needed” to achieve the desired outcome
• Sudanese government reiterated its support for hybrid force deployment in Darfur and President Omar Al Bashir promised coordination and cooperation for speedy and efficient deployment
• Chadian President Idriss Deby and Libyan Leader Muammar Al Qaddhafi were supportive of peace talks between Darfur rebel groups and the Sudanese government
• Ki-Moon indicated that the October 27 peace negotiations should be the last such negotiations and urged neighboring countries to exert pressure on all rebel groups to participate

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: British Minister Proposes Plan to Achieve Peace Including speedy deployment of Darfur Hybrid Force
By: Ismail Adam

• Gordon Brown of Britain proposed new plan that could enhance peace negotiations’ chances of success and lead to speedy and efficient deployment of Darfur hybrid force
• British official who visited Sudan insisted on participation of all Darfur rebel groups in order to ensure achieving lasting peace
• Britain and France to use their influence to convince rebel leaders such as Abdul Wahid Nour to participate in the peace negotiations slated for October 27 in Libya

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Al Bashir to Visit the Vatican on Thursday
By: Baleegh Hasballah

• Sudanese president to head a large delegation containing Muslim and Christian members to visit the Vatican and Italy
• Sudanese official indicated that the visit is intended to showcase the openness of Sudan and to refute allegations that the Sudanese government is an intolerant and a fundamentalist government
• The visit, according to the same official, comes at an important juncture in Sudan’s history as it attempts to resolve the crisis in Darfur

Read the above in Arabic.