Sudan’s Hemedti Returns to Khartoum after Meeting with Ethiopian PM

Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) General Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. (SUNA)
Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) General Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. (SUNA)
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Sudan’s Hemedti Returns to Khartoum after Meeting with Ethiopian PM

Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) General Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. (SUNA)
Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC) General Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. (SUNA)

Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), General Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, returned to Khartoum after a two-day visit to Ethiopia where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Hemedti’s rare visit to Ethiopia comes after relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa deteriorated due to the territorial dispute over the al-Fashaqa border region.

The TMC issued a statement saying Hemedti discussed with Abiy bilateral relations, reiterating the importance of the strong and historical ties that unite their countries.

The statement said that Hemedti and Abiy discussed issues and topics of common interest.

They pledged to work on the principle of transparent and constructive dialogue, aiming to develop bilateral relations to serve the interests and aspirations of their peoples.

Abiy tweeted: “I am pleased to welcome today Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council of the sisterly Republic of Sudan. I would like to express, once again, my appreciation for the deep historical bonds that bind our two people.”

Hemedti was met at Addis Ababa airport by Ethiopian Defense Minister Abraham Belay and the Director of Intelligence.

Observers linked the visit with the border situation and the outcome of the Ethiopian conflict between the government and the Tigray Liberation Front.

Tensions have been high along the Sudanese-Ethiopian border since December 2020, with intermittent clashes after Sudanese armed forces reclaimed agricultural territories in the fertile al-Fashaqa region, which had been under Ethiopia’s control since 1995.

Ethiopia claims the territories as its own, while Sudan has cited international border agreements that back its claim.

Addis Ababa said that Sudanese forces had breached its borders and demanded their withdrawal, accusing Khartoum of exploiting the war between government forces and the forces of the Tigray regional government.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.