Hamdok: Sudan Faces Its Greatest Crisis in History

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
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Hamdok: Sudan Faces Its Greatest Crisis in History

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, now leading the civilian Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum) alliance, said reaching a ceasefire, addressing the humanitarian crisis, and protecting civilians are the first steps toward a political resolution to end the war in his country.

During a recent visit to the UK, Hamdok described Sudan as facing its worst crisis in history, with its very existence at stake.

“We might wake up tomorrow and not recognize Sudan,” he cautioned, urging the need to protect the country from destructive forces that have dominated it for 30 years, harming its institutions and resources.

At a seminar organized by Tagadum in London, Hamdok highlighted the choice before the Sudanese people: “We can either choose peace, democracy, and freedom, or we can continue down the path of war and destruction.”

“The decision is clear. War achieves nothing and cannot control the country’s future,” he affirmed.

“Our greatest achievements happen when we unite. We came together for independence and revolutions in the past, and the Dec. 2018 revolution is a continuation of that legacy. It is a movement that will not be defeated,” reminded Hamdok.

He emphasized that their motivation is to honor the martyrs by building a democratic nation that all Sudanese can be proud of.

“This terrible war has caused great division, with people dying over identity and regional differences,” said Hamdok.

He called for unity against war and said: “Within Tagadum, we are forming a broad coalition of Sudanese from all backgrounds. Our diversity is a blessing, not a curse. We need to come together to create the largest front against war, setting aside our differences to defeat evil and corruption.”

Hamdok also spoke at Chatham House, a prominent UK research institution, highlighting the need for a strong monitoring system in Sudan.

He suggested considering a no-fly zone to establish safe areas and discussed the potential deployment of ground forces to protect civilians.

He urged addressing the refugee situation in neighboring countries and called on the international community to fulfill its commitments.

Regarding ceasefire efforts, he noted that they should be integrated into the political process and backed by existing agreements, with effective monitoring using technology and satellites.



Israel Clears Final Hurdle to Start Settlement Construction That Would Cut West Bank in Two

Construction cranes tower above a construction site in Givat HaMatos, an Israeli settlement suburb of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 2, 2026. (AFP)
Construction cranes tower above a construction site in Givat HaMatos, an Israeli settlement suburb of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 2, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Clears Final Hurdle to Start Settlement Construction That Would Cut West Bank in Two

Construction cranes tower above a construction site in Givat HaMatos, an Israeli settlement suburb of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 2, 2026. (AFP)
Construction cranes tower above a construction site in Givat HaMatos, an Israeli settlement suburb of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on January 2, 2026. (AFP)

Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a controversial settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the West Bank into two, according to a government tender. 

The tender, seeking bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project. 

The anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now first reported the tender. Yoni Mizrahi, who runs the group’s settlement watch division, said initial work could begin within the month. 

Settlement development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to US pressure during previous administrations. 

The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace. 

The E1 project is especially contentious because it runs from the outskirts of Jerusalem deep into the occupied West Bank. Critics say it would prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state in the territory. 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician who oversees settlement policy, has long pushed for the plan to become a reality. 

“The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions,” he said in August, when Israel gave final approval to the plan. “Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.” 

The tender, publicly accessible on the website for Israel’s Land Authority, calls for proposals to develop 3,401 housing units. Peace Now says the publication of the tender “reflects an accelerated effort to advance construction in E1.” 


Three Killed in Aleppo Attacks, Syrian Government, SDF Trade Blame

Syrian forces are seen during a military parade in Aleppo marking a year since the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2025. (Syrian Defense Ministry)
Syrian forces are seen during a military parade in Aleppo marking a year since the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2025. (Syrian Defense Ministry)
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Three Killed in Aleppo Attacks, Syrian Government, SDF Trade Blame

Syrian forces are seen during a military parade in Aleppo marking a year since the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2025. (Syrian Defense Ministry)
Syrian forces are seen during a military parade in Aleppo marking a year since the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2025. (Syrian Defense Ministry)

At least three people were killed and several others wounded in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA said on Tuesday, citing Aleppo's health director, after deadly attacks for which Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces traded blame.

Syria's defense ministry said in a statement that the SDF had continued its "escalation" by targeting army positions and residential areas in Aleppo. The SDF denied its responsibility, saying that the ‌casualties were caused by "indiscriminate" ‌artillery and missile shelling by ‌factions ⁠aligned with ‌the Damascus government.

The violence came days after a meeting between senior officials from the SDF and the Damascus government on implementing a deal agreed nearly 10 months ago that aimed to fully integrate the semi-autonomous Kurdish region into the central Syrian government.

The agreement was ⁠meant to be implemented by the end of 2025, but ‌the two sides have made ‍little progress, each accusing ‍the other of stalling or acting in bad ‍faith.

The SDF is reluctant to give up autonomy it won as the main US ally during the war, which left it with control of ISIS prisons and rich oil resources.

Integrating the SDF into Syria's army would mend Syria's deepest remaining fracture, ⁠but failing to do so risks an armed clash that could derail the country's emergence from 14 years of war and potentially draw in Türkiye, which has threatened an incursion against Kurdish fighters it views as terrorists.

As progress falters, several rounds of fighting have broken out. On December 22, Syrian government forces and SDF agreed to de-escalate in the northern city of Aleppo, after a wave ‌of attacks that left at least two civilians dead and several wounded.


African Union Calls for Immediate Revocation of Somaliland’s Recognition by Israel

Somalis burn the Israel flag and an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration, after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, at the Mogadishu Stadium in Warta Nabada district of Mogadishu, Somalia December 30, 2025. (Reuters)
Somalis burn the Israel flag and an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration, after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, at the Mogadishu Stadium in Warta Nabada district of Mogadishu, Somalia December 30, 2025. (Reuters)
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African Union Calls for Immediate Revocation of Somaliland’s Recognition by Israel

Somalis burn the Israel flag and an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration, after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, at the Mogadishu Stadium in Warta Nabada district of Mogadishu, Somalia December 30, 2025. (Reuters)
Somalis burn the Israel flag and an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration, after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, at the Mogadishu Stadium in Warta Nabada district of Mogadishu, Somalia December 30, 2025. (Reuters)

The African Union's Political Affairs Peace and Security council called on Tuesday for the "immediate revocation" of Israel's recognition ‌of Somaliland.

Israeli ‌Foreign ‌Minister ⁠Gideon Sara ‌visited Somaliland on Tuesday on a trip that was denounced by Somalia, 10 ⁠days after Israel ‌formally recognized the ‍self-declared ‍republic as ‍an independent and sovereign state.

"The (AU) Council strongly condemns, in the strongest terms, the unilateral recognition of ⁠the so-called 'Republic of Somaliland' by Israel," it said in a post on X after a ministerial meeting.