Arabic Media

October 10, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: UN Says Darfur Violence Threatens to Widen the Conflict
By: Abdul Wahid Libini and Saeed Al Ghareeb

• Minnawi faction of Sudan Liberation Movement – only Darfur rebel group that signed a peace agreement with the government so far - indicated that 40 people were killed in an army attack on Al Muhajiria village in Darfur
• UN expressed concern over increasing violence in Darfur which it fears could spread to other region making it necessary for hybrid force to have advanced weapons to carry out its mission successfully
• While in Libya, Dr. Mustapha Othman Ismail praised the importance of Egypt and Libya’s role in bringing peace to Darfur

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: 50 People Killed in Attack on Al Muhajiria Village in South Darfur

• 50 people killed in land and air attack by Sudanese army on Al Muhajiria village in South Darfur according to Minnawi group
• The group said that Janjaweed fighters participated in the attack as was evident by the pillaging and looting that took place during the attack
• African Union force Leader Martin Luther indicated that government forces bombed Al Muhajiria village which is controlled by the only rebel group that signed a peace agreement with the government
• UN expressed concern over increasing violence in Darfur which it fears could spread to other region making it necessary for hybrid force to have advanced weapons to carry out its mission successfully
• Meanwhile Justice and Equality movement indicated that it will participate in Libya peace talks without any conditions, but urged Egyptian government to pressure Khartoum government to negotiate in good faith in order to achieve comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Darfur

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Liberation Movement Threatens to Wage War After 50 People Killed in Darfur

• Sudanese Liberation Movement – Minnawi group – threatened to return to war after government supported attack on Al Muhajiria village, which is controlled by the group killing 50 people
• Sudanese army denied taking part in any military action in the region but acknowledged that the region was the scene of “tribal fighting” and maintained that Sudanese military planes did not approach the area
• The movement indicated that it “would no longer stand by in front of such attacks…we will return to square one that of war, which will be more vicious than in the past”
• This attack comes days after rebel leader Sulaiman Jamous accused the government forces of torching Haskanita village killing about 100 civilians in retaliation for deadly attack on African Union troops
• UN expressed concern over increasing violence in Darfur which it fears could spread to other region making it necessary for hybrid force to have advanced weapons to carry out its mission successfully

Source: Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Hybrid Force Lacks Funds and Equipment
By: Nizar Abboud

• Path to hybrid force deployment is paved with political obstacles despite efforts to eliminate such difficulties
• Darfur citizens keep hearing that the hybrid force was coming…upcoming peace talks in Libya are becoming less and less certain because many rebel groups decided not participate and others were not welcome
• To ensure the success of the hybrid force in Darfur, a lot more effort and time are needed, two luxuries the force does not enjoy
• The force which is mainly African is about to be deployed amid lack of enthusiasm by Western countries not too eager to provide even logistical assistance
• Because of this bleak assessment, Jan Eliasson is in Khartoum to discuss technical issues and convince the government to allow the force to use helicopters

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Egypt Optimistic about a Breakthrough Followed by an End of the Crisis

• Egyptian government was confident Darfur crisis would see improvement in the next few weeks capped by a peace agreement during Libya talks
• Britain warned rebel groups against boycotting Libya peace talks or risk being sidelined
• Meanwhile Minnawi group accused government troops of launching an attack on Al Muhajiria village killing 40 people
• UN expressed concern over increasing violence in Darfur which it fears could spread to other region making it necessary for hybrid force to have advanced weapons to carry out its mission successfully

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Minnawi Group Threatened Open War after Government Forces Took Control of Al Muhajiria
By: Ismail Adam

• Sudan Liberation Movement – Minnawi group announced that government forces and Janjaweed militia stormed Al Muhajiria region, the movement’s stronghold.  It gave no details about casualties but threatened to leave the coalition government and take up weapons
• According to Abdul Aziz Salem, Minnawi’s advisor, the government forces took advantage of outrage surrounding attack on African forces in Haskanita to go on a land-grab push ahead of Libya peace talks
• Government official denied that government forces conducted any military action in Darfur in the past few days
• But, US embassy in Khartoum condemned Haskanita destruction, and violence near Al Muhajiria.  It called on all parties to end military operations and abide by ceasefire ahead of Libya peace talks

Read the above in Arabic.