Arabic Media

September 24, 2023

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Government Calls on Arab Countries to Join Libya Talks and Describes New York Meetings as Positive

• Mustapha Othman Ismail, President Al Bashir’s advisor, called on Arab countries to participate in Libya peace talks.  He was optimistic the talks will resolve the crisis and lead to permanent peace in the region
• Ali Asadig, ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson, described New York meeting on Darfur as positive and denied any difference between African Union and United Nations’ positions regarding the nature of hybrid force troops
• Asadig also praised the meeting for warning rebel groups against boycotting Libya talks on Darfur and for threatening to use sanctions against them
• Meanwhile, these warnings and threats angered some rebel leaders, such as Ahmed Abdul shaffi leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction, who preferred the meeting looked into the rebels’ concerns instead of issuing sanction threats

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Editorial: Al Ahram’s Opinion: Insignificant Detail Not Worth Fighting Over

• It is neither in Sudan’s nor in United Nations’ best interest to hinder Darfur hybrid force deployment over troops’ identity
• Sudan insists on troops being mostly from Africa while the United Nations wants to include non-African nations because they are better trained and equipped than some African troops
• Sudan’s objection might lead to renewed calls for sanctions and delayed peace talks in Libya which can only prolong Darfur population’s misery
• It is not worth it for the Sudanese government to insist on what it wants, for the hybrid troops’ identity does not matter so long as these troops are not from countries that are enemies of Sudan
• It is equally not worth it for the United Nations to insist on including troops from non-African troops if the 26,000 peacekeeping troops can be obtained from African countries whose troops are properly trained and adequately equipped
• The ultimate victim of prolonged negotiations and delays is Darfur population who has suffered enough already

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Darfur Rebels Divided over Libya Peace Talks

• Darfur rebels have never been as divided as they are today over peace talks in Libya
• African Union and United Nations called on all rebel groups to attend the peace talks on October 27 or risk sanctions
• The threat of sanctions only had the opposite effect on Abdul Wahid Nour  who insists on real ceasefire before participating in any peace talks
• Nour’s intransigence angered many of his movement’s leaders who accuse him of being out of touch with the suffering of Darfur citizens since his self-imposed exile in Paris
• Rebel leader Abdul Karim Jar Annabi said his group has a vision for peace different than that of Nour’s; one that is based on dialogue
• Ahmed Abdul Shaffi group, however, called for postponement of peace talks till a truce is reached
• 5 rebel leaders met in Chad last week but failed to agree on an agenda for Libya peace talks

Source: Annahar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Israel to Take in 498 Darfur Refugees

• Israel agreed to allow 498 Darfur refugees, who entered Israel illegally, to remain in Israel but declared that it would not take in any other refugees
• Former director to be in charge of these 498 refugees
• Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel was neither the first nor the last country to take in illegal refugees and expressed hope other countries will step in to help Darfur refugees

Source: Al Riyadh (Government-friendly Saudi daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan Praises US Position during New York Meeting on Darfur

Sudanese government was pleased with results of New York meeting on Darfur

• It also praised US position, which it described as new and improved
• High-ranking Sudanese official in ministry of foreign affairs expressed his country’s satisfaction with the meeting’s endorsement of the African identity of Darfur hybrid troops and to pressure Darfur rebel groups to attend the peace talks
• The official pointed to US representative, John Negroponte, who issued warnings to rebel groups who refuse to attend the Libya peace talks

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan: 12 People Killed and 6 Wounded in Armed Attack on South Darfur, and Khartoum Government Leaves Door Open for Nour to Join Libya Peace Talks
By: Ismail Adam

• Massacre took place in South Darfur when gunmen opened fire on people as they were breaking their fast killing 12 and wounding over 6 people
• Sudan Liberation Movement, Minnawi faction, accused Janjaweed militia fighters of conducting the attack
• Khartoum government left door open for Nour to join Libya peace talks
• The government continued to praise results of New York meeting and welcomed its decision not to change the time or place of Darfur peace talks
• It also praised US position, which it described as new and improved
• The government welcomed the meeting’s decision not to include International Criminal Court’s arrest demands in Libya peace talks

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Who Wants to Sue Whom
By: Mohamed Al Hassan Ahmed

• Sudanese judicial branch is known for its many surprises.  The latest such surprise is the ministry of justice’s request to the Interpol for the arrest of Amnesty International leader for publishing false allegations
• Amnesty International issued a report criticizing the Sudanese government for torturing 8 coup leaders
• On the other, the same ministry rejected repeated requests for the arrest and handover of officials accused of war crimes in Darfur
• The ministry insisted that because Sudan did not sign the ICC charter, it is not willing to allow the trial of Sudanese citizens outside Sudan’s territory
• The accusations and counter accusations make it difficult who is suing whom
• It is obvious up till now that the international organization has the advantage as it holds credible proof
• But what is worrisome is the affect of such confrontation on both Amnesty international and the Sudanese government

Read the above in Arabic.