Arabic Media

October 9, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Egypt Urges all Rebel Groups to Participate in Peace Talks in Libya
By: Mohamed Annoubi and Asma Al Husseini

• Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu Al Gheid met with rebel leaders, who are preparing for Libya peace talks in Egypt, to explain Egypt’s position and urged participation by all rebel groups in Libya and called on them to be flexible and avoid setting impossible pre-conditions
• The minister also expressed Egypt’s eagerness to participate in rebuilding war-torn region of Darfur
• Rebel leaders told the minister that Sudan’s future as one country was doubtful and urged Egypt to pressure the Sudanese government on focusing on peace and stability
• The rebels also asked the minister to call on African Union and United Nations to continue coordinating the rebels’ positions ahead of peace talks in Libya

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Haskanita Destroyed

• An African Union and United Nations team indicated that Haskanita village, which was the scene of bloody rebels attack on African Union troops, was totally burned down
• Rebel leader Sulaiman Jamous indicated that residents of Haskanita and nearby villages fled to the forest and other villages after Haskanita was burned to the ground
• Jamous added that many residents were killed and blamed the government for the destruction of Haskanita

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebels Accused Khartoum Government of Attacking other Towns after Destroying Haskanita

• Sudan Liberation Movement, which signed peace agreement with Khartoum government, accused Sudanese army of attacking Al Muhajiria town
• The movement’s spokesperson Saif Eddin Harun said “large force assisted by airpower destroyed half of the town so far” and indicated the attack was still continuing
• US embassy in Khartoum condemned the destruction of Haskanita and urged all parties to show restraint and respect ceasefire, adding the Darfur region needed rebuilding not more destruction
• Meanwhile, Egyptian minister of foreign affairs met with rebel leaders gathered in Egypt to coordinate their strategy during Libya peace talks
• The minister urged the rebel groups to unite around a common set of demands, to show flexibility, and to avoid setting impossible pre-conditions

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Army Recuperated Stolen Vehicles and Arrested Suspects of Attack on African Union Troops in Darfur
By: Baleegh Hasballah

• Sudanese army launched large search operation in South Darfur to chase attackers of African Union who killed 12 soldiers in Haskanita village
• The army announced it recuperated 18 of the stolen vehicles and weapons, arrest one of the suspects, and found all 50 missing African soldiers
• The military discounted rebels’ accusations that the government used the military and Janjaweed militia in its recent offensive
• Rebel groups accused the government forces of destroying Haskanita and of targeting other nearby villages

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: African Council of Peace and Security to Meet Today to Discuss Situation in Darfur and Khartoum denied Destroying Town in Darfur

• Khartoum rejected rebel groups’ accusations that it destroyed Haskanita in retaliation for attack on African Union troops. Army spokesperson said “talk about the military destroying Haskanita is nothing but lies”
• Rebel leader Sulaiman Jamous accused Sudanese army of destroying Haskanita and killing between 86 and 105 civilians
• Sudan Liberation Movement – Minnawi group accused the government of attacking Al Muhajiria village
• UN in Sudan said Haskanita which was under government control has burned to the ground
• Meanwhile, African Union leaders met to coordinate efforts and prepare for Darfur peace talks to be held in Libya

Source: Al Arabiya (Dubai-based Pan Arabic News channel with over 15 million viewers)
Headline: Did the Rebels Fall in Their Own Traps?
By: Mohamed Al Hassan Ahmed

• The world woke up to the true face of rebel groups after the shameful attack on African Union peacekeepers in Darfur
• France, which rejected expelling Abdul Wahid Nour before, is about to change its mind especially that Nour refuses to attend peace talks in Libya
• The ill-timed attack which took place as the Group of Elder Statesmen were landing in Sudan brought a lot of scrutiny and condemnation from around the world
• Former President Jimmy Carter said “most rebel groups in Darfur do not represent but themselves”
• In Washington, the Bush Administration opposed new sanctions on American companies investing in foreign companies active in Sudan and warned if passed they may negatively impact US - European relations and harm improving relations with Khartoum government
• US embassy in Khartoum strongly condemned the rebels as did most of African Countries
• In addition, the rebels came under fire as some groups threatened to boycott Libya peace talks prompting many international sources to consider possible sanctions against any group that skips the talks

Read the above in Arabic.