Arabic Media

July 17, 2023

Source:Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)

Headline: Washington Rejects Accusation It Wants to Destabilize Sudan

Participants at Libya international conference on Darfur agreed to hold a meeting with Darfur rebel groups in Tanzania on August to discuss how to push ahead with a political solution to the four-year conflict. The final announced indicated that the participants were please with the conference results:

• Salim Ahmed Salim, African Union envoy, hoped to end civilians’ suffering and achieve peace and stability in Sudan
• Assamani Al Wasila, Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, reiterated Sudan’s commitment to peace and negotiations with rebels groups
• Libyan official, Ali Triki, was hopeful that the conference would lead to peace not only in Sudan but all of Africa, and
• United Nations envoy Jan Eliasson indicated that a meeting between the rebels and the government will be held in September

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)

Headline: Darfur Conference Set Peace Operation in Motion

Participants at Libya International Conference on Darfur were optimistic about peace prospects at the end of the conference. The conference accomplished its main goal of re-launching peace negotiations between Sudanese government and rebel groups. The final announcement indicated rebel groups will meet in Tanzania in August to work on a common strategy ahead of their September meeting with the central government

• United Nations envoy Jan Eliasson indicated that a meeting between the rebels and the government will be held in September
• Saeed Djinnit, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, indicated that the month of September will be a decisive month for Darfur, and added
• We made progress in the peace process, as rebel groups now want to negotiate

Even though not invited to participate, some rebel representatives were in Libya and met with some participants and expressed their willingness to attend the Tanzania meeting

Source:Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)

Headline: Libya Conference on Darfur Calls for a Meeting of Rebel Groups Next Month

By: Annour Ahmed Annour

Final announcement of Libya International Conference on Darfur indicated that:

• Pre-negotiation period accomplished its goal and was successful
• It welcomed Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim’s suggestion to gather rebel groups in Tanzania “to facilitate negotiations preparation”
• Situation in Darfur remains volatile and delicate therefore a political solution must be found to end the suffering of civilians and especially those who were displace

Reactions after the conference were positive too:

• Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Assamani Al Wasila described the conference results as “constructive, serious, and clear”
• African Union envoy Salim Ahmed Salim called for speedy deployment of hybrid force

Rebel representatives who were present at the Libyan capital told Jan Eliasson they were ready to work together on a common strategy for their negotiation with the government in September

Source:Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)

Headline: Mutrif Sidig: Khartoum Does Not Want to Divide Rebel Groups and Justice and Equality Movement Denies Signing Peace Agreement with the Government

By: Asma Al Hussaini

Dr. Mutrif Sidig, Deputy Foreign Minister and National Congress Party leader

• Denied accusations that the government or his party want to divide Darfur rebel groups
• Insisted that the rebel’s splintering is not in the best interest of the government because or peace in Darfur
• Justice and Equality Movement denied signing peace agreement with the government in Cairo, but
• Expressed willingness to negotiate with the government if it showed it was serious about peace in Darfur

Source:Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)

Headline: Libya Conference Called for August Meeting between Rebel Groups

By: Saeed Al Ghareeb

Participants at Libya International Conference on Darfur

• Expressed concern over current volatile and delicate situation in Darfur
• Called for August meeting between rebel groups
• Agreed on urgent need to find a political solution to the conflict and end the suffering of civilians and displaced refugees

Meanwhile, Sudanese government expressed reservations regarding United Nations Security Council’s authorization of hybrid force:

• Sudan objected to authorization under article 7
• It objected to giving the hybrid force wide latitude to use force in areas where it is deployed to protect the civilian population
• It favored working with UN Security Council members to authorize the hybrid force without article 7

Read the above in Arabic.