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
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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.



Israeli Strike Kills 3 Lebanese Soldiers, Army Says

A view of destroyed houses in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun Al-Ras, as seen from Avivim on the Israeli side of the border on 19 November 2024. (EPA)
A view of destroyed houses in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun Al-Ras, as seen from Avivim on the Israeli side of the border on 19 November 2024. (EPA)
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Israeli Strike Kills 3 Lebanese Soldiers, Army Says

A view of destroyed houses in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun Al-Ras, as seen from Avivim on the Israeli side of the border on 19 November 2024. (EPA)
A view of destroyed houses in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun Al-Ras, as seen from Avivim on the Israeli side of the border on 19 November 2024. (EPA)

The Lebanese army said an Israeli airstrike targeted one of its military bases late Tuesday in the southern town of Sarafand, killing three Lebanese soldiers. The Health Ministry said at least 17 people were also wounded, including civilians who lived near the facility.

In total, 41 Lebanese soldiers have been killed amid the war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Lebanon's army has largely stood on the sidelines during the 13-month conflict, and if a ceasefire is reached, the army could play a key role in securing a UN buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack — the latest in a series of Israeli strikes targeting the Lebanese military. On Sunday, Israel bombed a Lebanese army post in Mari, in Hasbaya province, killing two soldiers and critically injured three others.

In response, the Lebanese government announced on Monday plans to file a formal complaint with the UN Security Council on the “repeated attacks” on the Lebanese army, citing repeated violations of international law.

Before Tuesday's airstrike, Lebanese army spokesperson Col. Fadi Eid told The Associated Press that 38 soldiers have been killed since the current war began last year.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry also said that 28 people were killed Monday, raising the nationwide toll over to at least 3,544 killed and 15,036 wounded.