Sudan’s neighbors urge warring parties to start peace dialogue

Leaders from Sudan’s six neighboring countries have met in Cairo for the most high-profile peace talks since conflict erupted across the northeastern African country in mid-April. (Egyptian presidency)
Short Url
Updated 14 July 2023
Follow

Sudan’s neighbors urge warring parties to start peace dialogue

  • Aboul Gheit called for stronger Arab, regional and international efforts to prevent the collapse of food security in Sudan
  • Leaders at the summit acknowledged the threat the conflict poses to the region as a whole

CAIRO: Leaders from Sudan’s six neighboring countries met in Cairo on Thursday for the most high-profile peace talks since the conflict erupted across the northeastern African country in mid-April.

The meeting, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, was attended by the leaders of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, the Central African Republic and Libya.

Sudan has been rocked by violence since April 15, when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces burst into open conflict.

Leaders at the summit acknowledged the threat the conflict poses to the region as a whole and urged the warring parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire.

They expressed deep concern over the military operations, and a sharp deterioration in Sudan’s security and humanitarian situation.

El-Sisi said the summit attendees underlined their respect for the sovereignty and unity of Sudan, as well as non-interference in its internal affairs and the need for an inclusive dialogue.

They agreed to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid through neighboring countries, and to establish a foreign ministers’ working group to solve to the crisis through direct communication with the various Sudanese parties.

The group will present the results of its meetings and recommendations at the next summit on Sudan.

“This summit is held at a defining moment in the history of Sudan, during which the country is passing through a profound crisis that has negative repercussions on the security and stability of the region, the world, and, in particular, Sudan’s neighboring countries,” El-Sisi said.

The Egyptian leader said that fighting had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of millions to safe areas inside the country or in neighboring countries.

“This is in addition to the formidable material damage to public and private property, and the destruction of numerous vital facilities in the country,” he added.

El-Sisi said that Egypt “will exert its utmost efforts, in collaboration with all parties, to stop the spilling of precious Sudanese blood, preserve the gains of the great people of Sudan, and help realize its people’s aspirations, which were voiced by millions of its sons during their glorious revolution, to live with security, freedom, peace, and justice in their homeland.”

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stressed the need to preserve Sudanese state institutions and highlighted the organization’s opposition to any external interference in Sudanese internal affairs.

The Arab League is keen to coordinate and cooperate with the UN and African Union to end the conflict, he said.

Aboul Gheit called for stronger Arab, regional and international efforts to prevent the collapse of food security in Sudan.

Mohammad Al-Manfi, head of the Libyan Presidential Council, threw his weight behind the outcomes of the Arab summit held in Saudi Arabia in May, urging the Sudanese parties to unite as an important step to end the conflict.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that Sudan’s neighbors will continue to suffer if the warring parties fail to respond to peace efforts.

The effects of the conflict are being felt by all neighboring countries, especially the Horn of Africa, which has seen waves of displacement, he said.

Ahmed called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

“Sudan is bleeding. Ethiopia is doing its best to help it. In 2020, we celebrated a new beginning for democracy, but its joy has now faded, especially as we are witnessing a violent political conflict that has led to the loss of hundreds of lives, destruction and a lot of displacement,” he said.

However, Ahmed said he hoped things “will not be left to deteriorate in Khartoum, and this conflict must be contained in one way or another.”

Faustin Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic, warned of a proliferation of weapons due to poor border controls.

He called on the warring parties to come to the dialogue table, and urged neighboring countries to play a mediating role in order to achieve security and stability in Sudan.

With Reuters 


Pope Francis set to visit Turkiye for Council of Nicaea anniversary in 2025

Updated 58 min 31 sec ago
Follow

Pope Francis set to visit Turkiye for Council of Nicaea anniversary in 2025

  • The pope had already expressed in June the desire to go on the trip despite international travel becoming increasingly difficult for him

ROME: Pope Francis said on Thursday he planned to visit Turkiye’s Iznik next year for the anniversary of the first council of the Christian Church, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
The early centuries of Christianity were marked by debate about how Jesus could be both God and man, and the Church decided on the issue at the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
“During the Holy Year, we will also have the opportunity to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the first great Ecumenical Council, that of Nicaea. I plan to go there,” the pontiff was quoted as saying at a theological committee event.
The city, now known as Iznik, is in western Anatolia, some 150km southeast of Istanbul.
The pope had already expressed in June the desire to go on the trip and the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, had said the two men would celebrate the important recurrence together but no official confirmation had been made yet.
Despite international travel becoming increasingly difficult for him because of health issues, Francis, who will turn 88 on Dec. 17, completed in September a 12-day tour across Asia, the longest of his 11-year papacy.


Israel wants India’s Adani Group to continue investments after US bribery allegations

Updated 28 November 2024
Follow

Israel wants India’s Adani Group to continue investments after US bribery allegations

  • Adani Group holds a 70 percent stake in Haifa port in northern Israel and is involved in multiple other projects with firms in the country
  • US last week accused Adani Group of being part of scheme to pay bribes of $265 million to secure contracts, misleading US investors 

HYDERABAD, India: Israel wants India’s Adani Group to continue to invest in the country, Israel’s envoy to India said on Thursday, affirming the nation’s support for the ports-to-media conglomerate whose billionaire founder is facing bribery allegations in the United States.

“We wish Adani and all Indian companies continue to invest in Israel,” Ambassador Reuven Azar said in an interview with Reuters, adding that allegations by US authorities were “not something that’s problematic” from Israel’s point of view.

The Adani Group holds a 70% stake in Haifa port in northern Israel and is involved in multiple other projects with firms in the country, including to produce military drones and plans for the manufacture of commercial semiconductors.

US authorities last week accused Gautam Adani, his nephew, and Adani Green’s managing director of being part of a scheme to pay bribes of $265 million to secure Indian power supply contracts and misleading US investors during fund raising efforts there.

Adani Group has denied all the accusations, calling them “baseless.”

Still, shares and bonds of Adani companies were hammered last week and some partners began to review joint projects.

“I am sure Adani Group will resolve its problems,” Azar said on the sidelines of an event in the southern city of Hyderabad.


Lebanon to hold parliament session on Jan. 9 to elect president

Updated 28 November 2024
Follow

Lebanon to hold parliament session on Jan. 9 to elect president

  • State news agency: ‘Speaker Nabih Berri called a parliament session to elect a president of the republic on January 9’

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament will hold a session in January to elect a new president, official media reported on Thursday, a day after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire began and following more than two years of presidential vacuum.
“Speaker Nabih Berri called a parliament session to elect a president of the republic on January 9,” the official National News Agency reported.


Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon violated

Updated 18 min 44 sec ago
Follow

Israel says ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon violated

  • Lebanese security sources and state media report tank fire struck Markaba, Wazzani and Kfarchouba
  • Lebanon’s military deployed troops and tanks across the country’s south on Thursday

BEIRUT: Israel’s military announced on Thursday that it had detected the presence of suspects in several areas of southern Lebanon, calling it a violation of the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

At least two people were wounded by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon, state media reported. 

Earlier on Thursday Israeli tank fire targeted three towns along Lebanon’s southeastern border with Israel, according to Lebanese security sources and state media. The strikes came a day after the ceasefire, which prohibits “offensive military operations,” had officially taken effect.

The tank fire hit Markaba, Wazzani, and Kfarchouba, all located within two kilometers of the Blue Line that marks the border between Lebanon and Israel. One security source reported that two people were wounded in Markaba.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday under a deal brokered by the US and France, intended to allow people in both countries to start returning to homes in border areas shattered by 14 months of fighting.

But managing the returns have been complicated. Israeli troops remain stationed within Lebanese territory in towns along the border, and on Thursday morning the Israeli military urged residents of towns along the border strip not to return yet for their own safety.

The three towns hit on Thursday morning lie within that strip.

There was no immediate comment on the tank rounds from Hezbollah or Israel, who had been fighting for over a year in parallel with the Gaza war.

Lebanon’s military deployed troops and tanks across the country’s south on Thursday as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war largely held for a second day.

A Lebanese army source said its forces were “conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints” south of the Litani River without advancing into areas where Israeli forces were still present.

In the border village of Qlaaya, residents threw rice and flowers to celebrate the arrival of Lebanese soldiers.

“We only want the Lebanese army,” chanted the residents of the Christian-majority village, as they clapped and cheered for the troops and waved the Lebanese red, white and green flag.

Since the ceasefire took effect on Wednesday, tens of thousands of Lebanese who fled their homes have headed back to their towns and villages, only to find scenes of devastation.

“Despite all the destruction and the sorrow, we are happy to be back,” said Umm Mohammed Bzeih, a widow who fled with her four children from the southern village of Zibqin two months ago.

“I feel as if our souls have returned,” she said, visibly exhausted as she swept up the shattered glass and pieces of stones that carpeted the floor.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said his group was cooperating on the army’s deployment in the south.

There is “full cooperation” with the Lebanese state in strengthening the army’s deployment, he said, adding the group had “no visible weapons or bases” but “nobody can make residents leave their villages.”

The agreement, a rare diplomatic feat in a region racked by conflict, ended the deadliest confrontation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in years. But Israel is still fighting its other arch foe, the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip.

Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli forces can take up to 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military not to allow residents back to villages near the border.

Lebanon’s speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, the top interlocutor for Lebanon in negotiating the deal, had said on Wednesday that residents could return home.


Syria war monitor says more than 130 dead in army-militant clashes in north

Updated 28 November 2024
Follow

Syria war monitor says more than 130 dead in army-militant clashes in north

  • Clashes followed “an operation launched by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said
  • The air forces of both Syria and its ally Russia struck the attacking militants

BEIRUT: A monitor of Syria’s war said on Thursday that more than 130 combatants had been killed in clashes between the army and militant groups in the country’s north, as the government also reported fierce fighting.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll in the clashes which began a day earlier after the militants launched an attack “has risen to 132, including 65 fighters” from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, 18 from allied factions “and 49 members of the regime forces.”