Arabic Media

July 25, 2023

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

Headline: Sudan Accuses Britain and France of Carrying out US Policies

By: Tariq Fathi and Abdul Wahid Libini

Zalmay Khalilzad said that United Nations Security Council debated draft resolution submitted by Britain and France regarding hybrid force deployment in Darfur. Reaction to the draft resolution varied:

• Khalilzad said progress was made during debate, and
• Diplomatic sources expected a quick resolution on the force deployment, but
• Sudan Representative Abdul Mahmoud Abdul Halim said differences still exist
• UN Security Council experts still debating the resolution
• Sudan mission is working closely with Security Council members to limit the resolution to force deployment and funding, without
• Giving the force the right to use force

Meanwhile Atim Garang, Sudan People’s Liberation Army leader, said

• British and French draft resolution will not pass because it goes beyong AU – UN agreement with Sudan in Addis Ababa
• Sudan People’s Liberation Army is working with African and European allies to pressure Darfur rebel groups to attend Arusha meeting.

Source:Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)

Headline: Washington Calls on Darfur Rebels to Join Negotiations without Conditions

State Department spokesperson, Sean McCormack, called on Darfur rebel groups:

• To drop all conditions and participate in Tanzania meeting
• To send fighter representatives not just political figures
• Non participation will show disinterest in finding a solution and will sabotage peace process
• Reaching a political resolution is key to ending civilian suffering in Darfur
• Ending armed confrontation and deployment of hybrid force is a US goal

Source:Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)

Headline: Sudan Sends 20,000 Additional Policemen to Darfur

During a press conference, Sudanese Minister of the Interior Al Zubair Taha said:

• 20,000 additional police force will be sent to Darfur to double police force in the region
• 75 new vehicles representing first shipment of 300 will be sent to the region
• 1 million refugees returned to their homes since the beginning of the rainy season and the approach of the farming season
• What’s happening in Darfur is not a war but a campaign of terror and organized crimes

Meanwhile, British envoy issued a statement explaining UN Security Council draft resolution:

• Britain is willing to assist diplomatically, politically, and financially to resolve Darfur crisis
• Britain is working with allies at Security Council to adopt the draft resolution to deploy hybrid force

While United States urged rebel groups to attend Tanzania meeting.

Source:Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)

Op/Ed: What to Expect after the Visit?

Sudanese people working hand in hand to develop their country is the only solution to prevent outside powers from meddling in internal affairs of Sudan. Al Bashir’s visit to Darfur was noteworthy not just in its appearance but also in its substance as he was able to meet with different groups and visited different areas, but:

• To say that all is well in Darfur is not helpful
• The change of Darfur situation, which is the subject of the trip, must begin with:
• Acknowledgement that there is a problem
• The problem must be examined and a Sudanese solution must be found

The fact that there are armed rebel groups is a clear indication the problem exists. Only by resolving the conflict can Sudan begin to change the situation in Darfur and fully enjoy the resources of the region.

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

Headline: Britain and France Present a New Proposal and Sudan Rejects it

Britain and France submitted a new draft resolution for hybrid force deployment in Darfur, which they describe as less hostile toward Sudan. British envoy said:

• Harsh language was toned down to accommodate African opposition
• Condemnation of Sudan because it did not protect humanitarian aid was dropped
• He and French envoy will sit down with Sudanese envoy to work out the differences

Sudan, however, quickly rejected the new draft as unacceptable. Meanwhile US envoy to Darfur, Andrew Natsios, struck a tougher position by objecting to:

• Appeasement of government in Sudan
• Giving Sudan the opportunity to veto the draft
• And threatened to bring Sudanese government for questioning once the resolution was adopted

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

Headline: Sudan Rejects Sarkozy and Brown’s Visit

By: Ismail Adam and Mustapha Sirri

Sudanese Minister of the Interior Al Zubair Taha objected to:

• New United Nations Security Council draft resolution without making serious changes to it
• Visits by British and French leaders, Sarkozy and Brown without disavowing their hostile position from Sudan

Taha also told a press conference that:

• 1 million refugees returned to their homes with the approach of the farming season and the availability of police protection
• Police force is 20,000 in Darfur and will ultimately reach 40,000
• There is no war in Darfur but organized crime that police will be able to control

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

Headline: Washington Calls on Rebels to Attend Arusha Meeting and Drop all Conditions while Sudan Threatens to Reject Hybrid Force Resolution

By: Annour Ahmed Annour

As United Nations Security Council members debate draft resolution on hybrid force for Darfur for the third week, Sudan announced its objection to it because it:

• Revives controversial measures that were rejected in the past
• It is similar to resolution 1706 that was rejected
• Gives the hybrid force too much latitude to use force

At the same time, US pressed Darfur rebel groups to drop all conditions and join Arusha meeting. And AU and UN envoys, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson sent out invitations to rebel leaders to attend Arusha meeting to discuss adoption of a common strategy ahead of peace talks with the government.

Read the above in Arabic.