African Road Map to Solve Sudanese Crisis

 Mohamed El Hassan Ould Labat, spokesperson for the African Union, during a press conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (AFP)
 Mohamed El Hassan Ould Labat, spokesperson for the African Union, during a press conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (AFP)
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African Road Map to Solve Sudanese Crisis

 Mohamed El Hassan Ould Labat, spokesperson for the African Union, during a press conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (AFP)
 Mohamed El Hassan Ould Labat, spokesperson for the African Union, during a press conference in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (AFP)

The African Union announced on Wednesday a road map to resolve the Sudanese crisis, which included a set of measures to settle the conflict, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

In a statement following the third meeting of the Expanded Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis, the AU said that the road map consisted of six items, including the need to coordinate support to Sudan and secure an immediate, permanent, inclusive and unconditional cessation of hostilities.

According to the statement of the Expanded Mechanism, which is composed of 21 countries, along with the African and European Unions, the United Nations and IGAD, the roadmap underlined the need strengthen the humanitarian response, ensure the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure and compliance with international humanitarian law, give impetus to the agency of neighboring states, and promote the resumption of an inclusive, fully representative political process.

The Expanded Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis was established at the Ministerial Special Session on Sudan, convened by the AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on April 20.

The Mechanism aims to coordinate and harmonize regional, continental and international efforts in support of a peaceful resolution of the conflict to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. The second meeting of the Expanded Mechanism was held in Addis Ababa on May 2.

Meanwhile, violent clashes renewed between the two warring parties, in Khartoum and North Kordofan, on the second day of a 5-day truce agreement sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the US.

On Wednesday, the Sudanese army announced the suspension of talks with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah, “for the [group’s] failure to implement the terms of the truce agreement.”

Also, the RSF leadership accused the Sudanese Army of attempting to thwart the mediation efforts and resorting to a military solution.

Eyewitnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that they heard the sound of artillery shelling and heavy weapons in many areas of Khartoum.



World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
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World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)

The World Bank is looking to free up emergency funds for Lebanon, potentially including up to $100 million through the use of special clauses in existing loan deals, its managing director of operations told Reuters.

The Washington-based development lender currently has $1.65 billion in loans to the country including a $250 million loan approved this week to help connect dispersed renewable energy projects in the country.

Amid fighting across southern Lebanon, the bank was currently discussing ways in which it could help support the economy, including through the use of so-called Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERCs) clauses.

"We can use our existing portfolio and free up some money for really critical, short-term liquidity needs," Anna Bjerde said.

CERCs are present in around 600 of the bank's existing projects, globally, and allow it to redirect funds that have yet to be disbursed, if requested to by a government, for example after a health or natural disaster, or during conflict.

Lebanon has yet to make such a request, Bjerde said.

After a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel mostly limited to the frontier region, the conflict has significantly escalated in Lebanon.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third largest city Haifa on Monday, while Israeli forces looked poised to expand ground raids into south Lebanon on the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across the Middle East.

Lebanon's government could choose to use an existing social protection program that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows for financial support to be sent to individuals, Bjerde said.

"It has the benefit of being totally digital so you can reach people, plus it can be verified a bit... so we will also probably use that to top up the social safety net for those that are particularly affected."

Up to 1 million people have been internally displaced in the country, she added: "So it's important we focus on that".

Lebanon's finance ministry and economy ministry did not immediately respond when asked for comment.