Sudan’s Sovereign Council Deputy Chairman: Army Advances, No Talks for Now

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir with Sudan's Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar in Juba (X)
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir with Sudan's Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar in Juba (X)
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Sudan’s Sovereign Council Deputy Chairman: Army Advances, No Talks for Now

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir with Sudan's Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar in Juba (X)
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir with Sudan's Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar in Juba (X)

Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar asserted on Thursday that the Sudanese military has made significant strides on the battlefield, carrying out precise strikes against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Agar emphasized that there is no talk about any political process under the current artillery shelling and bullet shots, hinting at the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since last April.
According to a statement from the Sovereign Council’s media office, Agar discussed Sudan’s stance on regional initiatives with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
These initiatives, proposed by the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Jeddah Platform sponsored by Saudi Arabia and the United States, aim to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan.
Agar reiterated that a return to negotiations at the Jeddah Platform hinges on the RSF’s compliance with agreed-upon terms, including ceasing the occupation of civilian homes and addressing other agreed-upon issues.
The Sudanese leader concluded a three-day visit to the capital Juba on Thursday, accompanied by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Gabriel Ibrahim.
Agar said Kiir understood why Sudan’s membership in the IGAD was suspended, and stressed Sudan's commitment to solving African issues within the African Union.
Agar confirmed in two separate meetings with a group of envoys, heads of Troika, EU diplomatic missions and African ambassadors in South Sudan, that any attempts to launch a political process will not pay off.
He said that the Sudanese government is open and working hard to ending the war in a way that preserves the sovereignty, unity and national security of Sudan.
Agar also warned against the consequences and impact of the war on the Horn of Africa and the region as a whole.

 

 



US General Sees Progress as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Deadline Approaches in Lebanon

 A general view shows damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh, near the border with Israel, on February 4, 2025. (AFP)
A general view shows damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh, near the border with Israel, on February 4, 2025. (AFP)
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US General Sees Progress as Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Deadline Approaches in Lebanon

 A general view shows damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh, near the border with Israel, on February 4, 2025. (AFP)
A general view shows damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of al-Taybeh, near the border with Israel, on February 4, 2025. (AFP)

The US representative on a committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war said Friday that “significant progress” had been made ahead of a looming deadline to implement all the terms of the deal.

However, Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers' statement appeared to leave some ambiguity on whether Israel would withdraw its forces from all of southern Lebanon by the ceasefire's Feb. 18 deadline, saying only that he was confident “all population centers in the Southern Litani Area” would be back under Lebanese control by then.

In areas where Israeli forces pull out, the Lebanese army and a UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL are tasked with ensuring Hezbollah does not reestablish a military presence.

The deadline for Israel and Hezbollah to withdraw was initially set for late January, but Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend it. Lebanese officials say they won't agree to another extension and adamantly reject an Israeli proposal to keep its forces in five border points after leaving other areas.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday that his country had proposed a beefed-up UNIFIL presence, including French forces, in place of Israeli troops at those five points. The monitoring committee also includes France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.