Arabic Media

September 20, 2023

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebel Leader Demands Ceasefire before Peace Talks

• Abdul Wahid Nour demanded complete ceasefire and stability in Darfur before he would attend any peace talks
• Nour also refused to participate in Arusha meeting last month along with other Darfur rebel leaders and demanded Darfur militia be disarmed before meeting the Khartoum government
• Nour told French newspaper Le Monde he would boycott any talks as long as “my people face rape, murder, and colonization”
• Despite having the fewest armed followers, Nour enjoys wide support among the 2.5 million Darfur refugees
• Khartoum government armed the Janjaweed militia to combat the Darfur rebels who took up arms to protest the government’s marginalization of their arid region

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Nour Boycotts Darfur Rebel Meeting in Chad to Coordinate their Efforts

• Representatives of 5 rebel groups met in Chad to coordinate their peace negotiation positions in upcoming Libya talks, but Abdul Wahid Nour was a major no-show
• Nour refuses to attend any talks with Khartoum government unless total ceasefire was reached
• Silva Kiir criticized Nour for boycotting peace talks and not having a vision for Darfur, the region, or goals he wants to accomplish
• Meanwhile, presidential advisor Mustapha Othman Ismail announced in Cairo that a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss providing humanitarian aid and development in Darfur will take place in Khartoum on October 30th and 31st
• Ismail also indicated that Libya peace talks would be the last such talks to avoid opening the door for non-ending peace initiatives
• And on the ground, Ahmed Abdul Shaffi, one of Sudan Liberation Movement leaders, said his fighters killed 45 government troops in a three-hour battle near Dubu village in the Marra Mountains region

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Ban Discussed with Al Bashir the Arrest and Handover of Suspects to International Criminal Court

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said he discussed with President Omar Al Bashir International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Ahmed Harun and Ali Kushaib and will continue to bring up the subject in the future
• The International Criminal Court accused Harun of organizing, funding, and arming militias to prevent rebel groups from attacking government forces
• The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Ali Kushaib for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity
• The secretary general indicated he also discussed with the president declaring a truce, stopping all armed clashes, providing protection to aid workers, and allowing humanitarian aid passage 
• In addition, Ban Ki-Moon focused on African Union mission’s report that accused government forces of using attack helicopters to bomb Haskalita town on September 10th and 11th, which killed numerous civilians

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Ki-Moon Discussed Harun and Kushaib Arrest with Al Bashir and Sudanese Government Raised to 12,000 the Number of Darfur Casualties
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Presidential advisor Mustapha Othman Ismail announced in Cairo that a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss providing humanitarian aid and development in Darfur will take place in Sudan on October 30th and 31st
• Ismail also indicated that Libya peace talks would be the last such talks to avoid opening the door for non-ending peace initiatives
• In New York, UN Secretary General announced that he discussed with President Omar Al Bashir Ahmed Harun and Ali Kushaib arrest and handover to International Criminal Court
• Sudanese Minister of Justice Mohamed Ali Al Mardi reiterated Sudan’s refusal to deal with the ICC and indicated that Ali Kushaib was still under arrest
• He also raised the number of Darfur casualties from 9,000 to 12,000
• Meanwhile, Chinese envoy to Darfur rejected criticism directed at his country and indicated that China does not interfere in internal affairs of other countries
• He also insisted that his country plays a constructive role in Darfur peace efforts and is concerned about Abdul Wahid Nour’s refusal to attend any peace talks

Read the above in Arabic.