CAIRO: Egypt is attempting to mediate between Sudan’s warring factions, hosting a regional summit on Thursday, the latest in a series of international efforts to prevent the outbreak of civil war and the deepening of a humanitarian crisis.
Fighting between Sudan’s army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke out in the capital Khartoum in April, and has spread westward to the fragile Darfur and Kordofan regions.
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed and 3 million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations, which warns of a growing hunger crisis.
The United States and Saudi Arabia had negotiated a series of cease-fires, but suspended talks after violations. Earlier this week, Ethiopia hosted a regional East African summit, but the army boycotted, claiming Kenya, the lead sponsor, was biased.
Egypt, which has historically close ties with the Sudanese army, invited Sudan’s neighbors to the Thursday summit.
The aims of the summit are to stave off foreign interference and influence in the fighting, two Egyptian security sources said, and to ultimately launch a process to achieve a peaceful agreement to stop the fighting.
That plan aims to achieve a three-month cease-fire and open aid pathways amid a series of meetings with military and tribal leaders, the sources said.
Previous one-day and multi-day cease-fires were quickly violated, and were described by the UN special envoy Volker Perthes as an opportunity for the forces to re-position.
Speaking on Wednesday, he described mediation attempts as “emergency diplomacy.”
“The two warring parties still think they can win the war so they accept diplomatic initiatives when they think it can help their aims,” he said.
Among the African leaders attending is Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed, whose country has clashed with Egypt over its construction of a giant dam on the Blue Nile.
He met Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, after last week saying the fourth filling of the dam this summer would be delayed and would ensure Sudan and Egypt would receive enough water, a conciliatory move after years of tension.
Egypt to launch fresh Sudan mediation attempt during summit
https://arab.news/zjnrt
Egypt to launch fresh Sudan mediation attempt during summit
- More than 1,000 civilians have been killed and 3 million people have been displaced due to the fighting
- Saudi Arabia and the US had negotiated a series of cease-fires, but suspended talks after violations
Iraq MPs to debate revised bill after outcry over underage marriage
- Proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations for family matters
- A revised version of the bill sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval and retains ‘current conditions’
The proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations for family matters, such as marriage, inheritance, divorce and child custody.
Critics fear the move could erode protections for Muslim women by lowering the legal age for marriage – currently set at 18, or 15 with the consent of legal guardians and a judge – and pave the way for the adoption of Islamic jurisprudence that could allow marriages as young as nine years old.
A revised version of the bill sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval and retains “current conditions,” according to MP Raed Al-Maliki, who backs the new proposals.
Couples could opt for Shiite Muslim or Sunni Muslim rules under the amendment.
If passed, clerics and lawyers would have four months to establish community-specific regulations. Parliament would then vote again to finalize the changes.
The draft law has already undergone two readings, with votes previously delayed.
An earlier version faced backlash from feminists and civil society groups.
In October, Amnesty International warned the amendments could legalize unregistered marriages – often used to bypass child marriage bans – and strip protections for divorced women.
The London-based rights group also voiced concerns that the amendments would strip women and girls of protections regarding divorce and inheritance.
Sunday’s parliament session will also include a vote on a general amnesty law.
Excluded from amnesty are convictions for terrorism and crimes like rape, incest, human trafficking and kidnapping.
The amnesty, covering 2016-2024, could apply to drug users but not traffickers, according to Maliki.
Cases based on evidence from “secret informants” may qualify for retrial.
The previous 2016 amnesty reportedly covered 150,000 people.
Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced
Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a joint agreement to support orphans in Ilorin, Nigeria.
Under the agreement, 800 orphans aged 2 to 18 will receive housing, food, healthcare and education through orphanages in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Kwara State.
About 150 orphans between the ages of 15 and 18 will be trained in craft trades to help them earn a living, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
KSrelief also signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization to establish a residential complex for internally displaced persons in the Midi district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.
The project, valued at $3.81 million, will benefit 4,094 people, SPA reported.
The initiative will provide 232 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an open courtyard.
Additional facilities will include a secondary school, a mosque and a children’s playground to support residents and the host community.
Both agreements were signed by KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Ahmed Al-Baiz at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.
UNRWA chief says pausing aid delivery through key Gaza-Israel crossing
- Delivery through Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing has been paused due to unsafe route and looting by armed gangs inside Gaza
The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees is pausing the delivery of aid through the key Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza because of security concerns, its chief said Sunday.
“We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom... The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs. Yesterday, we tried to bring in a few food trucks on the same route. They were all taken,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X.
Oman inflation at 0.8% in October: official data
RIYADH: Oman’s inflation rate saw a modest 0.8 percent increase in October compared to the same month last year despite price increases across several categories, according to an official report.
The National Center for Statistics and Information analysis revealed that consumer prices for miscellaneous goods and services increased by 4.8 percent year on year, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages by 3.5 percent, healthcare by 3.2 percent, and culture and recreation by 0.8 percent.
Restaurants and hotels also saw gains of 0.6 percent, clothing and footwear by 0.5 percent, household furniture and maintenance by 0.4 percent, and education by 0.1 percent.
Conversely, transportation prices declined by 2.6 percent, while housing, utilities, fuel, communication, and tobacco categories remained stable.
Breaking down the food and beverage category, vegetable prices recorded the largest increase at 8.9 percent. Fruits followed with an 8 percent rise. Dairy products, including milk, cheese, and eggs, increased by 5.4 percent. Oils and fats rose by 3.8 percent, while meat prices climbed by 2.8 percent. Sugar and confectionery saw a 2.4 percent increase.
Processed foods increased by 1.8 percent, bread and cereals by 0.8 percent, and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.7 percent. Meanwhile, fish and seafood prices fell by 1.2 percent, partially offsetting the broader price hikes in food items.
Broad money supply
Data by the nation’s central bank pointed to a significant expansion in Oman’s broad money supply, which grew by 13.9 percent year on year, reaching 24.7 billion Omani rials ($64.1 billion) by the end of September.
This growth was driven by an 18.2 percent increase in narrow money and a 12.3 percent rise in quasi-money, which includes savings deposits, term deposits in Omani rials, and certificates of deposit issued by banks, as well as margin accounts, and foreign currency holdings within the banking sector.
Despite the overall monetary expansion, cash held by the public declined by 6.7 percent, while demand deposits surged by 25.1 percent, reflecting changing preferences in liquidity management.
Commercial banks in Oman recorded rising interest rates during the period. The weighted average interest rate on Omani rial-denominated deposits increased from 2.453 percent in September 2023 to 2.679 percent in September this year.
Similarly, the weighted average interest rate on loans denominated in Omani rials rose from 5.451 percent to 5.604 percent over the same period.
Interbank lending rates for overnight transactions declined slightly, with the average falling to 4.896 percent in September compared to 5.388 percent in the same month last year.
This shift aligns with the reduction in the weighted average repurchase rate, which decreased from 6.000 percent to 5.790 percent during the same timeframe. These movements are attributed to adjustments in monetary policy in line with the US Federal Reserve’s actions.
COP16: A turning point for global land restoration and drought resilience
RIYADH: The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification is set to be a pivotal moment in the global fight against desertification and land degradation.
Scheduled for Dec. 2-13, 2024, in Riyadh, COP16 carries the theme “Our Land. Our Future.”
This event aligns with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and marks the first time its COP will convene in the Middle East and North Africa — a region acutely affected by the devastating impacts of desertification and drought.
Why COP16 matters
As one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside climate change and biodiversity, UNCCD plays a critical role in global environmental governance. COP16 aims to catalyze unprecedented ambition and investment to restore degraded lands and enhance drought resilience.
The conference will focus on several key objectives:
Scaling up land restoration: Accelerating efforts to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Strengthening drought resilience: Enhancing global and national policy frameworks to better withstand and manage droughts.
Promoting people-centered solutions: Ensuring the participation of local communities, women, and youth in land management and restoration efforts.
“The COP16 plans to combat land degradation present exciting opportunities,” said Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer of Century Financial, in an interview with Arab News.
“Land restoration will promote job growth, encourage sustainable development, and support local economies. According to the UNCCD, every dollar invested in restoring degraded lands yields between $7 and $30 in economic returns,” he added.
Valecha underscored the importance of collaboration in achieving these ambitious goals, stating: “The target to reforest 1.5 billion hectares will require close collaboration among experts, universities, NGOs, government organizations, and the private sector. This collaboration will strengthen knowledge transfer to local communities and grassroots organizations, making development more sustainable in the long term.”
HIGHLIGHTS
As the hosts, Saudi Arabia is also introducing the first-ever Green Zone at a UNCCD COP, aimed at mobilizing the scientific community, businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, and the public to deliver lasting change.
COP16 in Riyadh will host the first dual-track dialogue at a UNCCD COP, combining a negotiation track with an action agenda to address pressing environmental issues.
The high-level segment of COP16, scheduled for Dec. 2-3, will feature ministerial dialogues on drought resilience, finance, and the impact of land degradation and drought on forced migration, security, and prosperity.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 highlights the region’s critical role in addressing desertification and water scarcity.
The MENA region is one of the areas most impacted by desertification, with some areas experiencing nearly 100 percent land degradation.
‘Missed calls from the land’
As COP16 in Riyadh approaches, the presidency announced the launch of the global campaign, “Missed calls from the land.”
This initiative, supported by a campaign film, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment as the UNCCD COP16 Presidency to raise global awareness about the urgent issues of land degradation, drought, and desertification.
Currently, 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting 3.2 billion people. The UNCCD’s target aims to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Valecha elaborated on how land restoration will have far-reaching impacts: “Restoration also improves water retention in the soil, enhances agricultural output, stimulates the livestock economy, and increases water availability for human consumption.”
He added: “These efforts will create more green jobs, making economies more resilient in the face of climate challenges.”
Ministerial dialogues
COP16 in Riyadh will host the first dual-track dialogue at a UNCCD COP, combining a negotiation track with an action agenda to address pressing environmental issues.
The high-level segment of COP16, scheduled for Dec. 2-3, will feature ministerial dialogues on drought resilience, finance, and the impact of land degradation and drought on forced migration, security, and prosperity.
“COP16 in Riyadh is a critical moment for the international community to address land degradation, drought and desertification,” said Osama Faqeeha, deputy minister for environment and adviser to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.
In a press release, he added: “From food and water insecurity to climate change, conflict, instability, and forced migration, how we treat our land has a profound impact on lives and livelihoods around the world.”
As the hosts, Saudi Arabia is also introducing the first-ever Green Zone at a UNCCD COP, aimed at mobilizing the scientific community, businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, and the public to deliver lasting change.
“At the same time, we are engaging policymakers from around the world in a range of high-profile discussions to deliver decisive multilateral action. This dual-pronged approach is vital to accelerating the land restoration and drought resilience initiatives our planet and its people so desperately need,” said Faqeeha.
FAO’s central role
The Food and Agriculture Organization will play a key role at COP16, reflecting its commitment to sustainable land management and food security. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, FAO’s assistant director-general, emphasized in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat the organization’s active participation, including leading discussions on transforming food systems and coordinating thematic days like Food Day and Governance Day.
Valecha tied land restoration directly to food security, emphasizing: “Land restoration is crucial for ensuring we have enough food for the future. Sustainable methods like agroecology and regenerative agriculture can improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and boost productivity, creating robust food supply chains that adapt to climate change.”
Strengthening drought resilience
Building resilience to drought will be a key focus of COP16, emphasizing the role of policies and technologies, with Valecha advocating for proactive measures.
“To improve drought resilience, a comprehensive framework is needed. This includes identifying vulnerable areas, implementing early warning systems, and enacting policies to prevent water overuse,” he said.
“Measures such as promoting drought-resistant crops and establishing drought management funds will provide essential protection for affected communities,” Valecha added.
The integration of local and indigenous knowledge into these efforts is equally vital.
Valecha said: “Indigenous communities, as key stakeholders in land restoration, possess deep understanding of their ecosystems. Their involvement can significantly reduce deforestation rates, as seen in countries like Nepal and regions in the Americas.”
A regional and global impact
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 highlights the region’s critical role in addressing desertification and water scarcity.
The MENA region is one of the areas most impacted by desertification, with some areas experiencing nearly 100 percent land degradation. COP16 will provide an opportunity for regional countries to showcase their resilience strategies and contribute to shaping global policies.
“The Gulf and MENA region, owing to its demographics, have been at the center of environmental challenges,” said Valecha. “However, initiatives such as drought and disease-resistant crop varieties by GCC nations demonstrate the region’s commitment to combating these challenges.”
Moreover, COP16 will offer a platform to showcase innovative solutions, from advanced land management practices to cutting-edge technologies in water conservation.
Youth and community engagement
For the first time, COP16 will see Saudi Arabia host a Green Zone alongside the formal Blue Zone program. This inclusive public space will promote environmental awareness through family-friendly and cultural activities.
The emphasis on inclusivity is central to COP16, with forums and training sessions for youth, women, and indigenous communities. The Green Zone will host discussions on sustainable land stewardship while featuring workshops, exhibitions, and interactive art installations.
Valecha highlighted the potential of youth engagement at COP16: “Selected youth negotiators will participate in the Youth Negotiators Academy, equipping them with skills to advocate for actionable policies. These efforts promote intergenerational dialogue and foster solutions for sustainable livelihoods.”
“Globally, women account for nearly 50 percent of agricultural labor in small-scale farming. Gender-inclusive policies across the value chain are critical to the success of restoration initiatives,” said Valecha.
Innovative solutions and partnerships
COP16 is expected to unveil groundbreaking initiatives, with Valecha anticipating significant developments. He added: “The conference could lead to the establishment of financing mechanisms and restoration funds. Cross-border partnerships can help maintain the Land Degradation Neutrality target and prevent further degradation of land resources.”
Valecha emphasized the critical role of the private sector in achieving COP16’s goals, highlighting the potential contributions of international financial institutions and private companies. He pointed to favorable loans, green bonds, and funding for sustainable practices such as no-till farming and rotational grazing as key areas of support.
He also stressed that public-private partnerships are vital for scaling up land restoration efforts.
A call to action
As COP16 commences, the world stands at a crossroads. This conference is not just a meeting but a call to action — a chance to turn ambition into tangible solutions for land, livelihoods, and the planet’s future.
