US Ambassador Urges Sudanese Parties to Implement Peace Agreement

Floods in the Nile River State, northern Sudan (AFP)
Floods in the Nile River State, northern Sudan (AFP)
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US Ambassador Urges Sudanese Parties to Implement Peace Agreement

Floods in the Nile River State, northern Sudan (AFP)
Floods in the Nile River State, northern Sudan (AFP)

The US ambassador to Khartoum, John Godfrey, has stressed the importance of taking measures to implement the Juba Peace Agreement, signed between the dismissed Sudanese government and the rebel factions in August 2020.

Godfrey called for putting an end to a decade-long war that claimed the lives of more than 300 people and displaced millions of people.

He said that Washington is looking forward to contributing to building a civil state in Sudan, stressing his country's desire to support the Sudanese people for the success of the democratic transition in the country.

The US embassy said on its official Facebook page that the Ambassador, a delegation from Congress, and a senior USAID official, discussed with the Governor of North Darfur, Nimir Abdelrahman, the security and humanitarian situation in the state.

Local authorities also briefed the Ambassador on the state's challenges and protecting citizens.

The official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) quoted the US ambassador as saying that his talks with the governor dealt with all issues of common concern, including the programs and projects of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Godfrey added that the meeting addressed the Juba Peace Agreement to maintain the understanding between the Sudanese and the US people.

Abdelrahman said in press statements that the visit of the US ambassador to the state was an encouraging step, reiterating that Godfrey's appointment at this stage confirms Washington's determination to develop bilateral relations.

The meeting addressed the requirements for the success of the transitional period, the progress of implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, and the execution of its protocols related to national issues.

The governor called for concerted efforts to address the challenges facing the deployment of security forces in Darfur to protect civilians.

He also appealed to the international community to provide aid to the people of Darfur without any pre-conditions.

The US delegation is scheduled to conclude its three-day visit to Darfur on Monday.

The peace agreement faces obstacles in financing the implementation of the Security Arrangements Protocol, which provides for the integration and demobilization of armed factions in the Sudanese army.

Parties to the peace agreement also have different viewpoints on the restructuring and reform of the traditional and security agencies.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon's Presidential Election is My Priority After Ceasefire

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with French President's Special Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), in Beirut, Lebanon, 28 November 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with French President's Special Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), in Beirut, Lebanon, 28 November 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon's Presidential Election is My Priority After Ceasefire

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with French President's Special Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), in Beirut, Lebanon, 28 November 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH
Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with French President's Special Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian (L), in Beirut, Lebanon, 28 November 2024. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has set the presidential election session for January 9, 2024, calling it a “productive” meeting and announcing that accredited ambassadors in Lebanon will be invited.

Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that his priority after the ceasefire with Israel is the presidential election, which he called a “national necessity.”

The announcement came as French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Beirut for talks with Lebanese leaders about restarting stalled political efforts due to the war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Both Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a call from French President Emmanuel Macron late Wednesday.

Macron discussed with Mikati the current situation in Lebanon following the ceasefire, as well as the implementation of decisions made at the recent Lebanon Support Conference in Paris.

In his call with Berri, Macron addressed the general situation, recent steps taken by Lebanon regarding the ceasefire and Israeli provocations, and preparations for the presidential election.

This renewed presidential push comes after more than two years of a vacant presidency, with Lebanese political parties still divided over a consensus candidate.