Washington Pledges to Continue to Back Civilian Transition in Sudan

US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva on August 12. (EPA)
US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva on August 12. (EPA)
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Washington Pledges to Continue to Back Civilian Transition in Sudan

US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva on August 12. (EPA)
US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva on August 12. (EPA)

US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello at a press conference in Geneva on August 12. (EPA)

The American administration reiterated on Sunday its support to the Sudanese people and their pursuit of democracy and civilian rule.

In a post on the X platform on the occasion of International Day of Democracy, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said: “We stand with the Sudanese people in their unwavering demand for an inclusive, civilian-led democracy.”

On this day, “we celebrate the Sudanese people who have inspired the world by rising up to reject an oppressive regime and demand control of their future,” he added.

“Those waging this war dishonor that dream and that courage,” he stated.

On the ground, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it repelled a government attack in the Sennar region, incurring heavy losses in their ranks.

It released video footage of how it repelled the attack near the Mayerno area. The army and its supporters did not comment on the attack.

Also on Sunday, several outlets reported the death of Mohammed Badawi Bashir, commander of the RSF’s “Al-Bara bin Malik” unit.

The unit is comprised of hardline Islamists and supporters of the regime of ousted President Omar al-Bashir. They had taken part in the regime’s battles in southern Sudan.

Opponents of the unit have described it as a Muslim Brotherhood militia that the army has allowed to acquire advanced military gear and equipment, including drones and artillery.



UNRWA Chief: Gaza Polio Vaccination Coverage Has Reached 90%

Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
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UNRWA Chief: Gaza Polio Vaccination Coverage Has Reached 90%

Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)
Palestinian employees of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) take part in a protest against job cuts (Reuters)

Polio vaccination coverage in Gaza has reached 90%, the head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency said on Monday, adding that the next step was to ensure hundreds of thousands of children got a second dose at the end of the month.

The campaign to vaccinate some 640,000 children in Gaza under 10 years of age against polio, which began on Sept. 1, presented major challenges to UNRWA and its partners due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

It followed confirmation by the World Health Organization (WHO) last month that a baby had been partially paralysed by the type 2 polio virus, the first such case in the Palestinian territory in 25 years, according to Reuters.

More than 446,000 Palestinian children in central and south Gaza were vaccinated earlier this month before a campaign to vaccinate a final 200,000 children in north Gaza began on September 10 despite access restrictions, evacuation orders and shortages of fuel.

The first round of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza ended successfully, UNRWA's chief Philippe Lazzarini said, adding that 90% of the enclave's children had received a first dose.

"Parties to the conflict have largely respected the different required "humanitarian pauses" showing that when there is a political will, assistance can be provided without disruption. Our next challenge is to provide children with their second dose at the end of September," he wrote on X.