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RSF Pledges to Preserve Sudan’s Unity

Sudanese refugees cross the border to Chad. (Reuters file photo)
Sudanese refugees cross the border to Chad. (Reuters file photo)
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RSF Pledges to Preserve Sudan’s Unity

Sudanese refugees cross the border to Chad. (Reuters file photo)
Sudanese refugees cross the border to Chad. (Reuters file photo)

Deputy commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Abdulrahim Hamdan Daglo pledged on Tuesday to permanently eliminate remnants of the ousted regime and to hold to account anyone found guilty in violations in the country.

In a rare appearance, he declared: “Our war is against enemies of the nation who ruled for 30 years, destroyed Sudan, displaced its people and plunged them in poverty.”

“It is time to eliminate this gang for good,” he said in a video that was posted on the X platform.

Moreover, he warned that the remnants of the regime were making “dangerous” claims that the RSF’s capture of three Darfur provinces was a precursor to Sudan’s division.

“Sudan’s unity and people are a red line. We won’t allow anyone to harm them,” declared Daglo, who is the brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti.

War broke out in Sudan between the RSF and army in mid-April. The conflict erupted over a plan to integrate the RSF and the army, four years after they worked together to oust veteran leader Omar al-Bashir during a popular uprising.

The RSF quickly seized swathes of Khartoum and supply routes running west, before gradually forcing army retreats in parts of the vast Darfur and Kordofan regions and south of the capital.

From late October the RSF took over army headquarters in Nyala, Zalingei and El Geneina, three of five Darfur state capitals.

Abdulrahim vowed that the RSF will thwart attempts to stoke strife in Darfur.

“We are working towards a united Sudan where people can live together without discrimination and marginalization,” he added.

The RSF, he continued, is responsible for protecting civilians and public and private properties. “We are up to the task in spite of the challenges,” he stressed.

Furthermore, he said the RSF “stands at an equal distance” from all segments of Darfur.

“We are fighting to end the injustice in Darfur and any region in Sudan,” Abdulrahim stated. “We will not hesitate in holding to account anyone who violates the rights of others or threatens their security and safety.”

Moreover, he called on the people of Darfur to show tolerance and forgiveness and shun hatred and discrimination to thwart the plans of those seeking strife.

He also urged refugees and the displaced to return to their homes to resume their normal lives, saying they had nothing to fear.

Turning to the armed groups in Darfur, Abdulrahim said they must assume their duties alongside the RSF in providing security and stability in the region, “which has witnessed massive suffering.”

He called on international and regional humanitarian organizations to offer needed aid to the people of Darfur, saying the RSF will ensure their safe and smooth delivery.

The US Treasury had in September imposed sanctions on Abdulrahim for dangerous violations committed during the conflict with the army in Darfur.

The RSF and its affiliated militias have been accused of being involved in the murder and forced displacement of people in west Darfur.

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Arab World

Hodeidah Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Fierce Fighting on Western Coast as Forces Press Ahead to Restore State Control

Governor Al-Hassan Taher during earlier fighting in the Hays area (Circulated)
Governor Al-Hassan Taher during earlier fighting in the Hays area (Circulated)
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Hodeidah Governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Fierce Fighting on Western Coast as Forces Press Ahead to Restore State Control

Governor Al-Hassan Taher during earlier fighting in the Hays area (Circulated)
Governor Al-Hassan Taher during earlier fighting in the Hays area (Circulated)

Hodeidah Governor Dr. Al-Hassan Taher said fighting on Yemen's western coast was at its fiercest, expressing optimism that the coming days would bring positive developments on the battlefield. He also revealed that 7,435 displaced people had been registered in Aden, Lahj and Abyan governorates, with efforts continuing to document families whose registration remains incomplete.

In exclusive remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Taher said Yemeni forces were determined to recapture areas seized by the Houthis, stressing that their objective extended beyond the districts of the western coast to restoring state institutions and reestablishing government authority throughout Yemen, with Saudi support.

On September 10, the Houthi terrorist group, backed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), seized several areas along the western coast, most notably the strategically important port of Mocha, before advancing toward Dhubab and Bab Al-Mandab.

Yemeni government forces subsequently regained the initiative and recaptured large parts of those areas. Fierce battles are now underway to reclaim the remaining districts of Hodeidah Governorate as part of Operation Fajr Yemen, launched by the Yemeni government in early October.

Fierce Fighting on the Coast

The governor described the ongoing battles as intense, with both sides advancing and retreating.

"God willing, within the next two days, you will hear good news about the defeat of this rebellious group," he said.

Taher praised Saudi Arabia's support, describing the Kingdom as a steadfast brother and source of support for the Yemeni people that had stood by them through difficult circumstances.

"We will not merely return to the areas we were forced to leave. We will continue until all Yemeni territory is liberated, with the support of our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he added.

7,435 Displaced People in Three Governorates

Taher said authorities had registered 7,435 displaced people in Aden, Lahj and Abyan, representing approximately 70% of the total displaced population. Relevant agencies are continuing to collect information to complete the registration of the remaining families.

He explained that most of those displaced had fled Al-Khokha district, which had served as the governorate's temporary capital, as well as Hays and Mocha. Around 4,000 have settled in Aden.

The governor said local authorities were coordinating with their counterparts in Aden, Lahj and Abyan to facilitate registration and aid distribution, with the participation of emergency response units and community committees.

He expressed appreciation to the local authorities in the three governorates for providing displaced families with the necessary assistance and facilities.

Cash Assistance and Relief Supplies

Taher expects cash assistance to be distributed to eligible beneficiaries within the next two days, once names have been verified and registration details corrected.

The beneficiary lists will be forwarded to money exchange companies, and recipients will receive text messages enabling them to collect their payments.

He explained that the assistance would be distributed through this mechanism without direct cash handovers or intervention by local authorities.

The governor said beneficiary lists covering five districts in Aden, namely Al-Tawahi, Seera, Al-Mansoura, Al-Mualla and Khormaksar, included approximately 1,070 recipients.

He noted that the start of payments had been delayed to allow for the completion of the verification process.

Taher identified shelter, food and cash assistance as the most pressing humanitarian needs of displaced families.

He said the government had already disbursed part of the allocated assistance, while local organizations were preparing to reach displacement camps and gathering sites in coordination with the relevant authorities in host governorates.

Role of KSrelief

Taher praised the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for supporting the people of Hodeidah during both crises and more stable periods.

He said the center had provided approximately 5,000 food baskets, of which 2,450 had arrived through its local partner, the Yamani Foundation, and had been distributed to camps hosting displaced people from several governorates.

Displaced Families Expected to Return Soon

Addressing the Houthis, Taher said the forced displacement of residents demonstrated what he described as the intimidation and abuses they faced.

He added that many people had fled their homes out of fear of such treatment or concerns that their children would be forced to fight.

In a message to residents who had been displaced, the governor said: "God willing, you will return soon, and this rebellious group will be defeated."

He reiterated that Yemeni forces would continue their military campaign until the entire territory of the republic had been restored to government control.

Arab World

Lebanon PM Warns Hezbollah Against Joining Another War

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to reporters at the Grand Serail in Beirut, December 3, 2025. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to reporters at the Grand Serail in Beirut, December 3, 2025. (Reuters)
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Lebanon PM Warns Hezbollah Against Joining Another War

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to reporters at the Grand Serail in Beirut, December 3, 2025. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to reporters at the Grand Serail in Beirut, December 3, 2025. (Reuters)

Lebanon's prime minister warned on Wednesday against plunging the country into a new war if the Middle East conflict resumes, in an apparent message to Hezbollah.

"Faced with the risks of renewed war in the region, I renew my warning of the dangers of dragging Lebanon into a new senseless adventure in service of outside interests," Nawaf Salam said.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has twice pulled Lebanon into a war with Israel in as many years, most recently when it attacked Lebanon's southern neighbor in support of Tehran in March.

"We do not accept the country again becoming a theatre for the conflict of others," Salam added, saying Lebanon had "already paid a heavy price".

In recent days, there has been heightened speculation about renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iran following the American midterm elections and Israeli general elections, along with bellicose threats from the leaders of both countries.

In response to Hezbollah attacks in March, Israel launched a major military campaign in Lebanon, including a ground invasion, which has killed more than 4,300 people.

It continues to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon, where it has been systematically demolishing villages.

Arab World

Egypt’s Sisi Urges Trump, Iran to Show Flexibility Before ‘It Is Too Late’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt’s Sisi Urges Trump, Iran to Show Flexibility Before ‘It Is Too Late’

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Slovenian counterpart Natasa Pirc Musar meet in Cairo on Tuesday. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday appealed to the United States and Iran to show flexibility at this stage, stressing the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding “before it is too late” and warning that the alternative would have “catastrophic” consequences for the region.

Speaking at a news conference in Cairo alongside Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, Sisi warned against any threat to Saudi Arabia’s security, reiterating Egypt’s “categorical rejection of any threat to the security and stability of the Kingdom and other Gulf states.”

According to the Egyptian presidency, Sisi’s talks with his Slovenian counterpart, who is making her first visit to Egypt, covered bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments.

Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding position on developments in the region, calling for regional de-escalation and political solutions to prevent the Middle East from sliding into a wider conflict.

He urged the parties involved in the current crisis between Iran and the US to allow room for dialogue and understanding and reach a political agreement that addresses the main demands of all sides.

The Egyptian president stressed the importance of dialogue and consensus “before it is too late.”

“The alternative would have catastrophic repercussions and consequences for the region and the world, which has been suffering successive crises for six years,” he warned.

Sisi appealed to Washington and Tehran to “show the greatest possible flexibility at this stage to find areas of common understanding that would allow the existing dispute to be resolved.”

He also reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for and solidarity with Arab countries, stressing his firm belief that Arab national security is “one indivisible whole.”

Sisi expressed confidence in Trump as “a man of peace who has succeeded in defusing many difficult crises.”

He urged the US president to “make every possible effort to provide mediators with all available forms of support and assistance to reach the best possible settlement, spare the region further suffering and give its peoples hope for a better life.”

Palestinian cause

Sisi stressed that the Palestinian cause “remains the central issue in the Middle East and one of the issues that reflects the international community’s commitment to the principles of justice and international law.”

He stressed the importance of all parties fully implementing the US president’s peace plan for Gaza and ensuring safe access for humanitarian assistance.

He also called for preserving the territorial unity of the Palestinian territories and rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land.

For her part, Pirc Musar said at the news conference that “peace cannot be achieved in the Middle East without the Palestinian people obtaining their rights.”

She reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to its position on the Palestinian issue and to respecting international humanitarian law.

Sisi praised his Slovenian counterpart’s international positions and policies supporting international law and peace, including in Gaza, noting that these positions had always been appreciated.

On bilateral relations, Sisi explained that the talks reflected a shared vision of building on progress made in relations between the two countries in recent years.

“We agreed to continue working to strengthen political consultations, develop economic and investment cooperation, and coordinate on regional and international issues amid the current overlapping crises,” he stated.

Cooperation and partnership

Sisi described Slovenia as an important partner for Egypt in Central Europe and announced an agreement with his counterpart on the need for a qualitative leap in bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to establish a timetable-based action plan to develop trade and investment cooperation mechanisms and strengthen direct contacts between their business communities.

Priority sectors include energy and related industries, transportation, tourism, culture, telecommunications and digital transformation, with the aim of opening new opportunities for production, investment and trade.

According to the Egyptian presidency, the talks also highlighted the importance of strengthening logistics and maritime transport cooperation, linking Egyptian ports with Slovenia’s Port of Koper and integrating supply chains between the two countries.

Sisi stressed the need to continue strengthening the partnership between Egypt and the European Union, as well as deepening Egyptian-Slovenian cooperation to advance broader Egypt-EU relations.

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Gamal Bayoumi described calls for de-escalation and peace in the region as essential amid signs of growing regional tensions.

“There is an awareness on the European side of Egypt’s central role in the regional peace process and Cairo’s ability to serve as a trusted mediator for de-escalation, dialogue and regional peace,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Bayoumi added that Egypt and Slovenia share common positions on several regional issues, including the security of waterways, given their importance to trade between the two countries.

He noted that the Slovenian president’s visit demonstrated her commitment to strengthening trade and economic cooperation with Cairo, describing bilateral relations as “historic and a gateway to Egyptian-European relations.”

Bayoumi also pointed to Slovenia’s interest in expanding investment in the Suez Canal region, its expertise in metal industries and its imports of Egyptian food products.

“There are promising opportunities to expand cooperation between the business communities of the two countries,” he remarked.