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Sudanese Sovereignty Council Member: Jeddah Platform Key for Peace

Representatives of the Sudanese conflict parties during the signing of the Jeddah Agreement in May 2023 (Reuters)
Representatives of the Sudanese conflict parties during the signing of the Jeddah Agreement in May 2023 (Reuters)
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Sudanese Sovereignty Council Member: Jeddah Platform Key for Peace

Representatives of the Sudanese conflict parties during the signing of the Jeddah Agreement in May 2023 (Reuters)
Representatives of the Sudanese conflict parties during the signing of the Jeddah Agreement in May 2023 (Reuters)

Sudan’s new Sovereignty Council member, Salaheddin Adam Tour, said on Friday he was assigned his role under “extremely complex” circumstances and is waiting to officially take over his duties.
In an exclusive interview with the Arab World News Agency, Tour denied any existing peace plan between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“There is no sign of peace yet,” he said. “However, the state has a comprehensive plan to achieve peace,” referring to the agreements from the “Jeddah Platform.”
Tour said he doesn't yet know which tasks he’ll be given, as this decision rests with the state.
Regarding his goals as a council member, Tour said: “We aim to improve living conditions and reduce the suffering of people in camps and those displaced abroad.”
“Our government is working hard to support the armed forces, restore stability in Sudan, and bring back refugees and displaced people forced to flee due to the war,” he added.
On Thursday, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan issued a decree appointing Tour to the Sovereignty Council, representing the Sudan Liberation Movement - Transitional Council (SLM-TC).
This appointment is part of the Juba Peace Agreement implementation.
On Friday, the Sudanese government reaffirmed its commitment to the Jeddah Declaration and international humanitarian law, emphasizing the protection of civilians.
It stated that the armed forces are dedicated to their constitutional role in defending the country and respecting international rules of engagement.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry announced that the government will facilitate visas for UN personnel and humanitarian workers.
The ministry also pledged to work with the international community to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need, following national and UN guidelines.
Additionally, the ministry dismissed concerns about an imminent famine, citing reports from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture that confirm the country’s food reserves are sufficient to meet citizens’ needs.

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Pentagon Acknowledges There Are More than 2,500 US Troops in Iraq

A US soldier is seen at a military base near Mosul, Iraq. (Reuters file)
A US soldier is seen at a military base near Mosul, Iraq. (Reuters file)
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Pentagon Acknowledges There Are More than 2,500 US Troops in Iraq

A US soldier is seen at a military base near Mosul, Iraq. (Reuters file)
A US soldier is seen at a military base near Mosul, Iraq. (Reuters file)

The Pentagon acknowledged Monday that there are more than 2,500 US troops in Iraq, the total routinely touted publicly. It also said the number of forces in Syria has grown over the past “several years” due to increasing threats, but was not openly disclosed.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that there are “at least 2,500” US military personnel in Iraq “plus some additional, temporary enablers” that are on rotational deployments.

He said that due to diplomatic considerations, the department will not provide more specifics.

The US concluded sensitive negotiations with the government of Iraq in September that called for troops to begin leaving after the November election.

The presence of US troops there has long been a political liability for Iraqi leaders who are under increased pressure and influence from Iran.

US officials have not provided details about the withdrawal agreement, but it calls for the mission against the ISIS group to end by September 2025, and that some US troops will remain through 2026 to support the anti-ISIS mission in Syria. Some troops may stay in the Kurdistan region after that because the regional government would like them to stay.

Ryder announced last week that there are about 2,000 US troops in Syria – more than double the 900 that the US had acknowledged publicly until now.

On Monday he said the extra 1,100 would be deployed for shorter times to do force protection, transportation, maintenance and other missions. He said the number has fluctuated for the past several years and increased “over time.”