Arabic Media

October 26, 2022

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Little Chance for Libya Talks to Succeed

• Numerous rebel groups are boycotting peace talks in Libya, which makes progress in Darfur crisis highly unlikely
• Experts said “the best that can be expected from these talks is to agree to meet at a later date with all rebel groups” in order to be able to end one of “the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world”
• Former US Diplomat and Save Darfur Coalition representative, Larry Rossin, said “international intermediaries should start lowering people’s expectations during this first round of talks” because influential rebel groups are not participating
• He added that the groups attending the Libya talks “have nothing in common and  have no common negotiating strategy”
• Meanwhile, Justice and Equality Movement threatened to conduct more attacks on oil installations throughout Sudan to force Khartoum to accept its demands
• The movement announced it attacked an important oil field in Kurdofan killing 20 government troops.  It also kidnapped two foreign workers from Canada and Iraq
• At the same time, UN Security Council called on all rebel groups to attend the peace talks and threatened to impose sanctions on any party that does not attend

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Chad President and Rebel Leaders to Sign Peace Agreement in Libya

• Sources close to Libyan officials and rebel leaders indicated that Idriss Deby, President of Chad, and leaders of Chad’s four main rebel groups were in Libya to sign a peace agreement
• The rebel groups were invited to finalize the peace agreement that was signed on October 3rd, which the Chadian authorities call “final agreement” but the rebel groups insist it needs more work and point to issues regarding inclusion of rebel fighters in the regular army

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Washington Threatens Khartoum with More Sanctions

• US UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad threatened Sudanese government with more sanctions because of its delaying tactics to prevent deployment of hybrid force in Darfur despite the fact that over 75% of the participating troops are from Africa
• Khalilzad also expressed concern over Sudan’s insistence on limiting the areas the force can monitor and its access to ports and airports
• In addition, the US diplomat urged the Sudanese government and Darfur rebel groups to participate in peace talks in Libya
• In the meantime, Justice and Equality Movement announced it attacked an oil field exploited by China and warned other oil companies to leave Sudan in an effort to force the government to accept its demands
• At the same time, International Union of Human Rights issued a report that indicated “an increase of human rights abuse in Darfur as peace talks neared.”  The report accused Janjaweed Militia of committing grave crimes against civilians on both sides of Chadian – Sudanese borders.  It also accused Chadian rebels of conducting ethnic violence

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Al Bashir and Al Qaddhafi Discuss Darfur Peace Talks and Chadian Forces Thwart French Operation to Smuggle 103 Darfur Children out of Eastern Chad

• Leaders of Libya and Sudan met to discuss details of Darfur peace talks
• Although some Darfur rebel groups started arriving in Libya to participate in peace talks, many rebel groups including most Sudan Liberation Movement factions and Justice and Equality Movement announced they will not participate
• Meanwhile, UN Security Council urged all rebel groups to attend the peace talks and threatened to impose sanctions against any party that does not participate or does not respect ceasefire
• But, Justice and Equality Movement announced it attacked an oil field killing 20 government troops and kidnapped 2 foreign oil experts and threatened to attack other oil installations throughout the country
• At the same time, a diplomat in Paris announced that Chadian forces arrested 9 French people who attempted to smuggle 103 Darfur children out of eastern Chad

Source: Al Arabiya (Dubai-based Pan Arabic News channel with over 15 million viewers)
Headline: International Report Warns of Continued Janjaweed Atrocities against Darfur Citizens

• On the eve of Libya peace talks, International Union for Human Rights issued a report that indicated an increase of human rights abuse in Darfur as peace talks neared
• The report accused particularly the Janjaweed militia of committing atrocities against Darfur civilians including executions, killings, rape, torture, and looting
• The report was based on investigation and interviews conducted with Darfur refugees in eastern Chad in July 2007
• The report also criticized Chadian rebel groups of engaging in ethnic violence

Read the above in Arabic.