Arabic Media

January 18, 2023

Source: Al Rai (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Bush Criticizes “Slow” Deployment of Darfur Hybrid Force

• President Bush described Darfur hybrid force deployment as “very slow” and UN official Jean-Marie Guehenno warned of “dire consequences” if it were not given “necessary tools to do its job”
• The hybrid force, which replaced the poorly equipped African Union force, deployed only 9,000 of the 26,000 peacekeeping troops and lacks air transportation and logistical equipment
• Meanwhile, Cambodia barred activist group Dream for Darfur and Mia Farrow from lighting a “symbolic Olympic Torch” at a “killing fields” memorial site
• The activists have already held similar events in Chad, Rwanda, Armenia, Germany, and Bosnia as part of a campaign to persuade China to push Sudan to end Darfur conflict

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Sudan Releases 7 Darfur Rebels

• Hybrid force spokesperson Nouredine Al Mazni reported that Sudanese army released 7 Darfur rebels and handed them over to AU – UN hybrid force
• The army arrested the 7 rebels on December 30 at an African Union base in Darfur.  They were part of a team monitoring the government’s declared ceasefire in the region
• The army hoped the gesture would be reciprocated by the rebel groups who hold Sudanese army hostages they captured in recent fighting

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Elite EUFOR Troops to Arrive in Chad in Few Days

• Irish minister of defense announced that an elite unit of EUFOR would leave to Chad in few days
• He added that the European Union would formally approve sending the force on January 28
• The 3,500 peacekeeping force was authorized by the United Nations to protect Darfur refugees in east Chad and north Central African Republic
• 12 European countries will participate in EUFOR with France taking the lead and Belgium and Poland providing air transportation