Arabic Media

January 23, 2023

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: European Commission: We Will Not Shrink from Helping Sudanese Refugees in Chad
By: Abdullah Mustapha

• European Union’s Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel insisted that Europe would not relinquish its responsibility toward Sudanese refugees in Chad and described deployment of EUFOR in Chad and Central African Republic as “essential to peace” in the region
• European countries, especially France, Belgium, and Poland, pledged to provide the EUFOR force with all necessary means to carry out its mission successfully
• The force’s mission is to provide security to the refugees and aid workers and protect aid operations

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan Denies Rebels’ Claim of Downing a MiG-29
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudanese army spokesperson denied Justice and Equality Movement’s claims that it shot down a MiG-29 fighter jet
• The movement’s field leader Abdul Aziz Ashar said the plane was shot down as it was bombing his fighters’ positions in Moon Mountain.

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: President Al Bashir Defends Appointment of Musa Hilal

• Appointment of Musa Hilal - Janjaweed militia coordinator who is accused of committing numerous atrocities - as government advisor was criticized by many humanitarian groups
• But President Al Bashir defended Hilal as an upstanding and influential Sudanese figure and accused Europe of causing Darfur’s suffering because of its support of Darfur rebel groups
• Turkish source indicated that Al Bashir told Abdullah Gul he appointed Hilal to get him involved in peace efforts
• Washington Accuses Hilal of war crimes, but he denies any atrocities were committed in Darfur and says he called on his tribesmen to defend their land as requested by the government.