Sudanese Parties Demand Expanding UN Initiative

Protests in Khartoum calling for the return of civilian rule (AFP)
Protests in Khartoum calling for the return of civilian rule (AFP)
TT

Sudanese Parties Demand Expanding UN Initiative

Protests in Khartoum calling for the return of civilian rule (AFP)
Protests in Khartoum calling for the return of civilian rule (AFP)

The Central Council of the Freedom and Change Forces in Sudan has called for expanding the UN initiative to solve the political crisis in the country.

The Council called for involving the Troika countries (US, UK, and Norway), the EU, and the Arab and African neighboring countries in the efforts to establish civilian authority.

The Council met with the head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes, to discuss the political process.

Council members handed Perthes a document on the shape of the government during the transitional period to achieve a breakthrough and end the army's rule.

The Council wants to enact a new constitution that restores the path of democratic transition away from the army's involvement in politics.

In a press conference, spokesman Wajdi Saleh said that the Coalition, which includes various political parties and civil society organizations, decided to deal positively with the international initiative.

Saleh asserted that the Coalition appreciates the international actors who announced positions against the October 25 coup.

He called for the continuation of the peaceful popular movement until its goals are achieved.

Saleh added that security and military reforms are essential for a civil democratic transition, stressing the need for establishing the new constitution to unify the armed forces by implementing the security arrangements stipulated in the Juba Peace Agreement.

The Agreement calls for merging the forces of armed movements into the national army.

The spokesman stressed that the army's acceptance of the UN initiative only gains credibility when the state of emergency is lifted, all political detainees are released, and attacks and violence during the peaceful protests are stopped.



Syria’s Sharaa Congratulates Trump, Looks Forward to Improving Relations 

A handout picture released by Syria's transitional government shows the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa waiting for the arrival of Spain's foreign minister at the presidential palace in Damascus on January 16, 2025. (Syria's Transitional Government / AFP)
A handout picture released by Syria's transitional government shows the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa waiting for the arrival of Spain's foreign minister at the presidential palace in Damascus on January 16, 2025. (Syria's Transitional Government / AFP)
TT

Syria’s Sharaa Congratulates Trump, Looks Forward to Improving Relations 

A handout picture released by Syria's transitional government shows the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa waiting for the arrival of Spain's foreign minister at the presidential palace in Damascus on January 16, 2025. (Syria's Transitional Government / AFP)
A handout picture released by Syria's transitional government shows the country's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa waiting for the arrival of Spain's foreign minister at the presidential palace in Damascus on January 16, 2025. (Syria's Transitional Government / AFP)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa congratulated US President Donald Trump on his inauguration in a statement on Monday, saying he is looking forward to improving relations between the two countries.

"The past decade has brought immense suffering to Syria, with the conflict devastating our nation and destabilizing the region. We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region".

The US, Britain, the European Union and others imposed tough sanctions on Syria after a crackdown by ousted President Bashar al-Assad on pro-democracy protests in 2011 that spiraled into civil war.

In early January, Washington issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months in an effort to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.

Syria welcomed the move, but has urged a complete lifting of sanctions to support its recovery.