Arabic Media

September 4, 2023

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: UN Calls for Speedy Arming of Darfur Hybrid Force

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on member countries to send weapons and specialized forces to participate in Darfur hybrid force so that it can fulfill its mission satisfactorily
• The secretary general also said he would take advantage of his upcoming trip to Sudan to discuss with the government and other parties ways to put the conflict back on political negotiations track
• In a different but related development, President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Brown acknowledged that “the situation in Darfur is unacceptable,” promised to increase their efforts to resolve the crisis, and warned the government and rebel groups to respect the ceasefire

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: UN Calls on its Members to Participate in Darfur Hybrid Force

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged UN member countries to send troops and give military equipment to Darfur hybrid force so that it can carry out its difficult mission
• The Secretary General acknowledged that the force had enough pledges regarding soldiers and infantry, but still needs sophisticated equipment such as helicopters and experts
• The secretary general also indicated that the August 31 deadline for participation was pushed back till the force’s needs were met
• Ban Ki-Moon urged the Sudanese government to issue needed visas to enable the pledged troops to go to Darfur
• UN Security Council resolution 1769 mandates the deployment of hybrid force of 26,000 troops in troubled region of Darfur

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Britain and France Threaten Sudan to Stop the Violence or Face Sanctions

• Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that Sudan could come under added sanctions if violence continued and political progress stalled
• The two leaders qualified the situation in Darfur as “unacceptable” and suggested “a combination of ceasefire, peacekeeping force, economic development, and the threat of sanctions would resolve the conflict”

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Relations between Sudan and USA to Improve after Hybrid Force Deployment
By: Talha Jibril

• Officials close to ongoing negotiations between Sudanese delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Assamani Al Wasila and State Department officials said relations between Sudan and USA to improve as soon as hybrid force deployment in Darfur starts and especially if the Sudanese government did not interfere or sabotage it
• Negotiations between the two countries to continue in Sudan and also in New York City during UN annual meeting
• USA was pleased by efforts and alertness of Sudanese government in foiling plots to attack Western interests in Khartoum

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Ban Ki-Moon Starts Visit to Sudan
By: Baleegh Hasballah

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon started a four-day visit to Sudan where he will visit troubled region of Darfur and South Sudan territory
• The secretary general will meet with President Omar Al Bashir to discuss hybrid force deployment in Darfur, as well as opposition leaders including Sadig Al Mahdi, Hasan Turabi, and representative of Mohamed Othman Al Mirghini to seek their input in resolving the crisis in Darfur
• Statement by Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs expressed the country’s desire to see the visit succeed adding that it is an indication of the government and international community’s commitment to resolving the crisis peacefully, and implementation of US Security Council resolution 1769

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Sudan Expels UN official

• Sudan People’s Liberation Movement criticized its governing partner National Congress Party for making important decisions, such as expelling of Western officials, without consulting with the rest of the government
• Local authorities in Kodufan informed UN mission that its representative at the local airport, Raul Farhan, was no longer welcome in Sudan because of insensitivity and disrespect toward local officials who were about to board UN plane to investigate the damage caused by recent flooding