Deputy Head of Sovereign Council Calls for Liberating Central Sudan

The Sudanese conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. (AFP)
The Sudanese conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. (AFP)
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Deputy Head of Sovereign Council Calls for Liberating Central Sudan

The Sudanese conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. (AFP)
The Sudanese conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. (AFP)

Deputy chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Malik Agar called on his forces to advance and liberate Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira state, in the country's center.

Agar directed his forces in the Blue Nile State to advance and liberate Wad Madani, which was seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in December.

Addressing the forces of the Fourth Division in Damazin, Agar called on the commander of the troops to advance to Wad Madani as it is the first line of defense for the region, stressing his commitment to providing all necessary support.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports emerged about the death toll of the ongoing battles between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Babanusa in West Kordofan state. The majority of the population was displaced to safe areas.

The Sudan Doctors Syndicate said that over ten people were killed and more than 16 injured.

The Syndicate reported that the General Public Hospital and all private health facilities were out of service, adding that medical personnel faced difficulties transporting the injured to nearby cities.

Humanitarian corridors

The Syndicate called on the army and the RSF to stop the fighting that is endangering the lives of the people.

It urged humanitarian organizations to pressure the warring parties to open safe humanitarian corridors for the injured and medical personnel.

Emergency Lawyers, an independent human rights organization that monitors violations and tallies civilian victims, said the clashes killed over 23 civilians, injured about 30 others, and displaced large numbers of civilians.

In a statement on Facebook, the legal activists condemned the Rapid Support Forces' continued expansion of the war by attacking safe cities and the grave violations they committed against civilians.

The statement noted that the crimes do not have a statute of limitations and are subject to criminal accountability by international humanitarian law and International Criminal Court (ICC).

Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that there was a complete blackout of telephone communications and the Internet in Babanusa.

Many fleeing residents arrived in the neighboring state's capital, and arrangements are being made to accommodate the displaced in school buildings and provide them with the necessary humanitarian aid.

Residents told Asharq Al-Awsat that military aircraft launched successive attacks targeting the RSF in residential neighborhoods.



Trump Secures $600 Billion Saudi Investment Pledge on Gulf Tour

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump Secures $600 Billion Saudi Investment Pledge on Gulf Tour

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US President Donald Trump shake hands during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States as he kicked off a Gulf tour in Riyadh where he was welcomed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The leaders signed an agreement on energy, defense, mining and other areas, which the White House said will “build economic ties that will endure for generations to come.”

“The deals celebrated today are historic and transformative for both countries and represent a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia,” it added in a statement.

Among the agreements secured on Tuesday: Saudi Arabian DataVolt is moving forward with plans to invest $20 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure in the United States.

Google, DataVolt, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber are committing to invest $80 billion in cutting-edge transformative technologies in both countries, said the White House.

American companies including Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM are building key infrastructure projects like King Salman International Airport, King Salman Park, The Vault, Qiddiya City, and much more totaling $2 billion in US services exports.

Additional major exports include GE Vernova’s gas turbines and energy solutions totaling $14.2 billion and Boeing 737-8 passenger aircraft for AviLease totaling $4.8 billion.

Investment partnerships include several sector-specific funds with a strong emphasis on US deployment, such as the $5 billion Energy Investment Fund, the $5 billion New Era Aerospace and Defense Technology Fund, and the $4 billion Enfield Sports Global Sports Fund.

Trump had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Tuesday on his first overseas trip since his reelection. He will next visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and the United States also signed the largest defense sales agreement in history, worth nearly early $142 billion.