African Union Leads Mediation Efforts in Sudan

Parts of the protests in Sudan's Khartoum against the military coup (File/AFP)
Parts of the protests in Sudan's Khartoum against the military coup (File/AFP)
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African Union Leads Mediation Efforts in Sudan

Parts of the protests in Sudan's Khartoum against the military coup (File/AFP)
Parts of the protests in Sudan's Khartoum against the military coup (File/AFP)

The African Union (AU) urged the leaders of the Sudanese army to take immediate steps to restore the constitutional order in the country.

The Chairperson of the AU, Moussa Faki Mahamat, confirmed in a statement that he continues to follow up on political developments in Sudan since the military coup on October 25, especially after the army announced earlier this week the formation of a new Sovereign Council.

The Chairperson renewed his call to the military authorities in Sudan to engage without further delay in a political process that leads to the return of constitutional order following the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement.

Mahamat will send an envoy to Sudan soon, in response to the request of the Peace and Security Council, to encourage the parties to reach a political solution urgently.

The Union suspended Sudan's participation in its activities against the background of the recent military coup.

Last week, Sudan's top chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan unilaterally formed a new Sovereign Council of 14 members, which held its first meeting with all its members on Sunday.

Burhan welcomed the new members and promised a new vision that would achieve the goals of the December revolution.

He added that the members pledged to provide an ideal model in managing the country's affairs to satisfy the Sudanese people. He also vowed to form a civilian government in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Malik Agar, leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, described the measures taken since October 25 as a "military coup." In a video circulated on social media, he indicated that the army has full power, but the coup faces many challenges, namely handling the peaceful protests.

Furthermore, the Central Doctors Committee announced that six people were killed by the army during the demonstrations Saturday.



Hamas Accepts US Proposal on Talks over Israeli Hostages 16 Days after 1st Phase

A person rides a scooter near pictures of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Jerusalem, July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
A person rides a scooter near pictures of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Jerusalem, July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
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Hamas Accepts US Proposal on Talks over Israeli Hostages 16 Days after 1st Phase

A person rides a scooter near pictures of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Jerusalem, July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
A person rides a scooter near pictures of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Jerusalem, July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Hamas has accepted a US proposal to begin talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war, a senior Hamas source told Reuters on Saturday.
The group has dropped a demand that Israel first commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing the agreement, and would allow negotiations to achieve that throughout the six-week first phase, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the talks are private.

A Palestinian official close to the internationally mediated peace efforts had said the proposal could lead to a framework agreement if embraced by Israel and would end the nine-month-old war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

A source in Israel's negotiating team, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was now a real chance of achieving agreement. That was in sharp contrast to past instances in the nine-month-old war in Gaza, when Israel said conditions attached by Hamas were unacceptable.

The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, since Hamas attacked southern Israeli cities on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages, according to official Israeli figures.

The new proposal ensures that mediators would guarantee a temporary ceasefire, aid delivery and the withdrawal of Israeli troops as long as indirect talks continue to implement the second phase of the agreement, the Hamas source said.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza have intensified over the past few days with active shuttle diplomacy among Washington, Israel and Qatar, which is leading mediation efforts from Doha.