Burhan’s Deputy Warns of 'Imminent' Catastrophe for Sudan, Neighboring Countries

Malik Agar. (His Facebook page) 
Malik Agar. (His Facebook page) 
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Burhan’s Deputy Warns of 'Imminent' Catastrophe for Sudan, Neighboring Countries

Malik Agar. (His Facebook page) 
Malik Agar. (His Facebook page) 

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) stated on its Facebook page that the ongoing situation will inevitably result in "massive destruction" for Sudan and neighboring countries.

The Movement emphasized that Deputy Head of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, is diligently working towards consolidating foreign and domestic initiatives through a credible dialogue, supported by facilitators of international and regional negotiations to attain peace and avert the impending collapse of Sudan.

The SPLM-N underscored the imperative need to enhance cooperation between Sudan and its immediate neighboring countries, with the aim of putting an end to the conflict and establishing a state of lasting peace and stability.

In May, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander of the Sudanese army, appointed Agar as a replacement for Hemedti.

Burhan made a televised speech on Tuesday announcing a ceasefire on the first day of Eid, while the Rapid Support Forces announced a truce.

"The conspiracy requires everyone to be awake and ready to respond to the existential threats to our country, and so we call on all the young men and who can defend to not hesitate to play this role, either from where he lives or by joining the armed forces," Burhan said during the speech.

Multiple ceasefires announced by both sides have been systematically violated, as well as others mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The UN refugee agency warned that conflict in Sudan would prompt 1 million people to flee across its borders in the next six months.

Witnesses told Reuters this month an increasing number of Sudanese civilians fleeing El Geneina, a city in Darfur hit by repeated attacks, have been killed or shot at as they tried to escape by foot to Chad.

Burhan who is also the head of the Sudan's ruling sovereign council blamed the RSF for the “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in the city.



Israeli Minister Says Time Running out for Diplomatic Solution with Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israeli artillery shells an area of Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Upper Galilee, northern Israel, 11 September 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli artillery shells an area of Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Upper Galilee, northern Israel, 11 September 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Israeli Minister Says Time Running out for Diplomatic Solution with Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israeli artillery shells an area of Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Upper Galilee, northern Israel, 11 September 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli artillery shells an area of Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Upper Galilee, northern Israel, 11 September 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday that the window was closing for a diplomatic solution to the standoff with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon.

Gallant's remarks came as the White House Special envoy Amos Hochstein visited Israel to discuss the crisis on the northern border where Israeli troops have been exchanging missile fire with Hezbollah forces for months.

"The possibility for an agreed framework in the northern arena is running out," Gallant told Austin in a phone call, according to a statement from his office, Reuters reported.

As long as Hezbollah continued to tie itself to Hamas in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been engaged for almost a year, "the trajectory is clear," he said.

The visit by Hochstein, who is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, comes amid efforts to find a diplomatic path out of the crisis, which has forced tens of thousands on both sides of the border to leave their homes.

On Monday, Israeli media reported that the head of the army's northern command had recommended a rapid border operation to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

While the war in Gaza has been Israel's main focus since the attack by Hamas-led gunmen on Oct. 7 last year, the precarious situation in the north has fuelled fears of a regional conflict that could drag in the United States and Iran.

A missile barrage by Hezbollah the day after Oct. 7 opened the latest phase of conflict and since then there have been daily exchanges of rockets, artillery fire and missiles, with Israeli jets striking deep into Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah has said it does not seek a wider war at present but would fight if Israel launched one.

Israeli officials have said for months that Israel cannot accept the clearance of its northern border areas indefinitely but while troops remain committed to Gaza, there have also been questions about the military's readiness for an invasion of southern Lebanon.

However, some of the hardline members of the Israeli government have been pressing for action and on Monday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a longtime foe of Gallant, called for him to be sacked.

"We need a decision in the north and Gallant is not the right person to lead it," he said in a statement on the social media platform X.

Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters and dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians have been killed in the exchanges of fire, which have left communities on both sides of the border as virtual ghost towns.