Arabic Media

January 22, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: African and International Efforts to Restart Peace Talks
By: Abdul Wahid Libini

• South Sudan official announced plans to return 8,000 South Sudanese refugees from Darfur starting in March
• Meanwhile, AU and UN envoys discussed with Darfur rebel groups a new meeting similar to that of Arusha to coordinate the rebels positions ahead of next round of peace talks
• British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the House of Commons that he urged Chinese officials to put pressure on Sudan to end Darfur violence, facilitate peacekeepers’ deployment, and begin peace negotiations.

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan Pleased that UN Security Council Dropped Demand to Handover Suspects
By: Islam Abdul Rahman

• Sudanese government praised Chinese and Russian objection to UN Security Council’s resolution demanding the handover of suspect and full cooperation with International Criminal Court
• Sudan reiterated its objection to dealing with the Court on the basis it did not sign Rome treaty which created the ICC.

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Disagreement between Khartoum and N’Djamena over Identity of Kidnapped Children
By: Mustapha Sirim

• Chadian Minister of the Interior Ahmed Mohamed Bashir announced that “no Sudanese children” were among those kidnapped by French organization L’Arche de Zoe
• Bashir also welcomed regional efforts to broker a peace agreement between his country and Sudan but insisted that Sudan must first stop arming and harboring Chadian rebel groups
• He also indicated that Chadian authorities would distribute the 160,000 euros to families of the children
• Meanwhile, Sudan demanded that Chad return the kidnapped Sudanese children to their families in Darfur.

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: AU and UN Envoys Acknowledge Failure in Darfur
By: Emad Hassan

• AU and UN envoys Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson announced they failed to set a date for upcoming peace talks between Khartoum government and Darfur rebel groups
• The envoys said they were not able to convince influential rebel groups to take part in these peace talks and pinned any peace prospects in Darfur on improved relations between Chad and Sudan
• Eliasson warned against the destabilizing effects of attacks by Justice and Equality Movement and continued tension between Chad and Sudan
• Meanwhile, influential advisor Nafi Ali Nafi reiterated the government’s readiness to achieve peace in Darfur.

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Gul Calls for Peace in Darfur

• During a press conference with Omar Al Bashir, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said “there is a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur where tens of thousands were killed…I urge all parties to work toward ending the crisis”
• He also offered Turkey’s assistance in reaching a peaceful resolution that respects Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Did International Envoys Become an Obstacle to Peace in Darfur?
By: Emad Abdul Hadi

• After AU and UN envoys Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson announced their failure to convince Darfur rebels to restart peace negotiation, many experts wondered if the two have become an obstacle rather than an agent of peace in the region
• Asadig Ali Hassan of Darfur Defenders Committee said the two envoys have become an essential part in Darfur crisis as they empowered insignificant groups that do not have any presence in Darfur
• He also charged that the two envoys have no vision or plan to end the crisis but have been engaged in public relation campaigns and cultivating personal relationships
• As for Mohamed Mussa Ali, Darfur Forum for Peaceful Coexistence leader, he said that Salim Ahmed Salim was confronted in the past and told “he has become part of the crisis and can no longer be effective as a peace envoy”

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Human Rights Watch Objects to Appointment of Janjaweed Leader Mussa Hilal as Government Advisor
By: Talha Jibril

• Human Rights Watch criticized appointment of Janjaweed leader Mussa Hilal as government advisor and called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to demand he be dismissed when he meets with Sudanese president at the end of the month
• The organization indicated that Hilal represents the face of horror for Darfur children and his appointment as government advisor is a slap to the international community.
• In April, UN Security Council issued a travel ban against Hilal and froze his assets.