Arabic Media

October 23, 2022

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan between Illusions of State and of Fright of Territorial Disintegration
By: Mohamed Al Hasan Ahmed

• Sudanese regime was unable to capitalize on international condemnation of Darfur rebel groups for attacking African Union troops in Haskanita
• Instead it made the same international community point fingers at the regime for its actions in Haskanita and Muhajiria
• Sudanese army burned down Haskanita town after it was called upon by African Union officials to help with finding missing soldiers, equipment and to secure the area.  The forces, instead, burned down the whole town, killed numerous people, and displaced the rest.  These actions alone make the military as guilty as the rebel groups
• However, the military did not stop at Haskanita, its only partner in Darfur, Sudan Liberation Movement – Minnawi group accused it of shelling nearby town of Muhajiria.  The military denied the accusations and blamed the fighting on tribal violence
• But the African Union, an unbiased third party, confirmed Minnawi group’s accusation, which leaves no doubt that the military is guilty as charged. 
• Once again, the Sudanese government failed to take the moral high ground and stooped to levels far below rebel groups’ levels
• Thus, the government lost credibility in front of the international community

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: French Minister in Khartoum to Discuss Darfur

• French junior Minister of Foreign Affairs Rama Yade met with her Sudanese counterpart in Khartoum when she indicated that France wants peace in the region
• The minister said that France supports the participation of all Darfur rebel groups in upcoming peace talks in Libya, including Abdul Wahid Nour.  She added that the French government informed him of the importance of his participation
• The minister also asked questions about Darfur and was told by her counterpart Assamani Al Wasila that although some violence breaks out here and there every now and then in certain parts of Darfur, the situation in the region in general is not as bad as the international media reports
• Al Wasila also told Yade Sudan was committed to hybrid force deployment in Darfur and to humanitarian aid flow to affected areas
• Al Wasila also said that the Sudanese government fully supports peace talks in Libya and is hopeful it would lead to a peace agreement

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Khartoum to Abide by Ceasefire on October 27 as Goodwill Gesture for Peace Talks

• Sudanese representative at the United Nations Abdul Mahmoud Abdul Halim indicated that his government decided to abide by ceasefire starting October 27
• The official explained that by taking this action, the government wants “to encourage the participants to do the same right at the start of the talks”
• He also reiterated Sudan’s support for hybrid force deployment in Darfur, but criticized the United Nations for awarding a $250 million no-bid contract to a US construction company
• Meanwhile, UN mission in Khartoum reported that 3 Sudanese troops were killed in Hamadiya refugee camp

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Music Fest in London to Support Darfur

• British Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed support for efforts to end Darfur crisis when he sent a videotaped message saying “oppression anywhere is an attack on justice everywhere, that’s why we will continue to work with you to end this tragedy”
• The message was addressed to a large music fest organized by Islamic Rescue Organization in Britain to benefit Darfur residents

Read the above in Arabic.