Bashir's Supporters Warn Burhan, Demand Expelling UN Envoy in Sudan

Broad Islamic Trend protests in Khartoum (AFP)
Broad Islamic Trend protests in Khartoum (AFP)
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Bashir's Supporters Warn Burhan, Demand Expelling UN Envoy in Sudan

Broad Islamic Trend protests in Khartoum (AFP)
Broad Islamic Trend protests in Khartoum (AFP)

Several thousand supporters of the ousted Sudanese President , Omar al-Bashir, and the disbanded National Congress Party (NCP) gathered outside the UN Integrated Transition Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) headquarters, demanding the expulsion of its president Volker Perthes.

They warned the head of the Sovereign Council, Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against signing a prospective bilateral settlement with the "Freedom and Change" opposition coalition, according to a consensus draft constitution.

About 4,000 Muslim Brotherhood supporters affiliated with the Broad Islamic Trend and the initiative of religious leader al-Tayeb al-Jid, gathered outside the mission's headquarters to protest foreign interference in the country's internal affairs.

They waved banners against foreign intervention and the QUAD mechanism, which includes the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The protesters also claimed that the draft constitution prepared by the Bar Association and agreed upon by various political forces is imported and imposed on the Sudanese.

Speakers at the protest threatened the head of the UN mission and demanded he leaves the country. One speaker warned Burhan against signing a bilateral agreement with the opposition coalition and demanded he resigns.

Meanwhile, police forces stationed near the road entrance leading to UNITMAS headquarters closed the road from both sides. They allowed the protesters, who came by bus, to reach the place without any obstacles, unlike other opposition protests who faced violence.

Participants at the protest announced the Broad Islamic Trend readiness, along with the capital residents, to completely cordon Khartoum if any settlement is declared between the Freedom and Change alliance and the military component.

Broad Islamic Trend includes ten factions that signed a charter in April to create organizational integration.

Since October 2021, hundreds of thousands of protesters demanded the return of the civilian transition, which prevented the military leadership from implementing its pledges.

Last July, Burhan announced the withdrawal of the armed forces from the political process and called on civilians to agree on the formation of a civilian government, which the opposition and the civil movement considered a "maneuver" to stay in power.

The Islamist demonstrations come against the backdrop of the announcement that an agreement will be reached between Freedom and Change and the military to form a civilian government. They also agreed that Burhan and his deputy would be members of the Security and Defense Council headed by the Prime Minister.

The Islamists considered the agreement a reversion to the military's position, threatening their existence and privileges.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) welcomed the measures taken by the competent authorities to secure the October 29 demonstrations and demanded that everyone be granted the right to peaceful assembly without exception or discrimination.

In a statement obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, OHCHR praised the measures, including ensuring the flow of traffic in Khartoum and access to the Internet.

It condemned the ongoing hate speech and warned against threatening international public figures, saying it is a crime under international humanitarian law.

The Commission considered the threats against Perthes a crime and called on the government to take the necessary measures to stop such rhetoric and hold the perpetrators accountable.



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
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Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”