Sudan’s FFC in Cairo to Discuss a ‘Political Vision’ to End War

Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan April 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan April 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
TT

Sudan’s FFC in Cairo to Discuss a ‘Political Vision’ to End War

Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan April 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan April 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) on Monday commenced a series of meetings that will extend until Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

The primary objective of these meetings is to formulate a political vision for halting the current conflict in Sudan between the military forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Meanwhile, the country’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council Malik Agar continued his consultative meetings with various Sudanese political and non-partisan figures in Cairo to develop a shared vision.

According to participants of FFC meetings, the number of attending party and political leaders has reached 45 individuals. Many of them arrived in Cairo over the past two days specifically to take part in these discussions.

Among the prominent attendees are Yasser Arman, a leader within the FFC and its official spokesperson, Sudanese Congress Party President Omar Al-Dagir, Khalid Omar Yousif, the party’s deputy, and Babiker Faisal, the Executive Office of the Unionist Alliance.

During the opening session, Al-Dagir stated: “Prolonging the war’s duration may lead to the risk of it escalating into a civil war, which would open the door to foreign interventions.”

He further added that the FFC have been committed since day one to “halting the war,” in contrast to the stance of the remnants of the ousted regime who beat the drums of this war in their quest to return to power from which the Sudanese people removed them during the December 2018 revolution.

Al-Dagir emphasized that the FFC extended their hands to all democratic forces and components to work towards ending the war and mobilizing international and humanitarian efforts to bring about reforms in the country.

According to well-informed Sudanese sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, an arranged meeting between Agar and Arman is expected to take place in the coming hours.

Arman arrived in Cairo recently, coming from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and was unable to attend the first meeting with the FFC leadership.

Following the FFC meetings, a press conference is anticipated to be held on Wednesday to announce the outcomes of the discussions.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
TT

Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that the situation was "good in principle" following two hours of talks with US envoy Amos Hochstein to discuss the US proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Some details of the proposal still needed to be hashed out, including technical details, he added.

He said Hochstein would settle those details before travelling on to Israel, and that Lebanon saw the United States as the guarantor of the Israeli stance.

On whether the draft under discussion was also addressed with the Israelis, he said Hochstein "is coordinating with them over it."

"This wouldn’t be the first time the Israelis renege on their pledges," he added.

Hochstein had arrived in Beirut on Tuesday and kicked off his talks with Berri, who has been tasked by Hezbollah in negotiating on its behalf.

Hochstein said he held "very constructive talks" with Berri and that there was a "real opportunity" to bring the conflict between the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah and Israel to an end.

"This is a moment of decision-making. I am here in Beirut to facilitate that decision but it's ultimately up to the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our grasp," he told reporters after the meeting.