Arabic Media

September 21, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: UN Technical Team in Darfur

• UN technical team visited Darfur to coordinate AU and UN leadership missions’ readiness for peacekeeping operation
• The team held a series of meetings with the two missions’ leadership to prepare the groundwork for the arrival of the two missions full staff by December 31st
• Meanwhile, Sudanese government denied accusations it attacked civilians in Darfur and rejected calls for new UN sanctions

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Rebel Group Wants Libya Talks Postponed and Khartoum Searching for “Third Way” to Resolve War Crimes Crisis with International Community

• Sudanese government is  said to be studying a “third way” to resolve international community’s handover demands of war crimes suspects
• Diplomatic sources indicated African Union to be hard at work to complete police force
• The sources also mentioned a new push to have refugee camp representatives participate in Libya peace talks
• High-ranking UN official complained European countries offered very little assistance in forming Darfur hybrid force
• France submitted draft resolution of EU – UN force to be deployed in Chad and the Republic of Central Africa to protect Darfur refugees
• US envoy Andrew Natsios praised China’s “constructive” role in resolving Darfur crisis

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Human Rights Watch Calls for Sanctions against Sudanese Government

• Human Rights Watch called on UN Security Council, African Union, and international community to impose new sanction against Sudanese government and all other parties in the conflict if they failed to do their part in improving the humanitarian conditions in Darfur
• The organization accused government forces, the Janjaweed, and former rebel groups of attacking civilian population and aid workers at will in Darfur
• Its recently published report indicated that internally displaced people found themselves virtual prisoners inside the camps and faced attacks, rape, and death at hands of the Janjaweed and former rebel fighters each time they leave the camps to farm their land or collect wood for fuel
• The organization called on the AU and UN to deploy a large number of peacekeepers and place them strategically to allow for quick and effective response when needed
• It also called on the Sudanese government to stop using UN colors and flags and to stop supporting the Janjaweed militia

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: ICC Wants Arrest of War Criminals Included in Libya Talks’ Agenda

• ICC called for inclusion of Darfur war crimes suspects in Libya talks while Sudanese government reiterated its opposition to handing over any of its citizens in order to be tried outside its territory
• Ahmed Abdul Shaffi, Sudan Liberation Movement Commander, called for peace talks to be postponed few months to allow for confidence building between warring sides
• Rebel leaders, Abdul Wahid Nour, Ahmed Abdul Shaffi, and Khalil Ibrahim, either announced they would not or might be forced, because of continuing violence, not attend peace talks in Libya
• Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir promised UN secretary general to observe total ceasefire at the start of peace talks in Libya
• Ban Ki-Moon said UN would keep vigilant eye on Sudan’s compliance with UN Security Council demands for free passage of humanitarian aid to refugees
• US envoy Natsios praised China’s “constructive” role in Darfur, acknowledged improving situation on the ground, and considered the tens of rebel groups and not the Sudanese government’s attitude to be the major obstacle

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Ban Ki-Moon Says UN to Watch Sudanese Government Behavior in Darfur

• Ban Ki-Moon indicated the UN would keep vigilant eye on compliance with UN Security Council demands for free passage of humanitarian aid to refugees in Darfur
• He added that President Omar Al Bashir promised total cooperation and ceasefire at the start of Libya peace talks
• France submitted draft resolution for European Union – United Nations force to be deployed in Chad and the Republic of Central Africa to protect Darfur refugees
• US envoy Andrew Natsios praised China’s “constructive” role in resolving Darfur crisis

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: UN to Watch Sudanese Government Actions in Darfur while the Government Accused Abdul Wahid Nour’s Supporters of Planning Major Disturbances in Khartoum
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudanese authorities arrested members of Abdul Wahid Nour’s group for plotting to conduct a series of explosions and violence in Khartoum
• Police chief said the movement members threatened to blow up gas stations in the capital city when their request for demonstrations was turned down
• Human Rights Watch called for international sanctions on Sudan if it continued attacks on civilians in Darfur and urged AU and UN speedy deployment of peacekeeping forces
• Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lam Akul rejected calls for international sanctions, described charges of attacks on civilian population as “non sense,” and described the organization’s report as “fabricated lies”
• Meanwhile Ban Ki-Moon and Alpha Omar Conary plan to meet in New York to put finishing touches to peace talks in Libya and speed up deployment of hybrid force in Darfur
• Ban Ki-Moon indicated the UN would keep vigilant eye on Sudan’s compliance with UN Security Council demands for free passage of humanitarian aid to refugees
• Ahmed Abdul Shaffi, Sudan Liberation Movement Commander, called for Libya peace talks to be postponed few months to allow of confidence building between warring sides

Read the above in Arabic.