Int’l, Arab Parties Back Political Agreement in Sudan

Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
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Int’l, Arab Parties Back Political Agreement in Sudan

Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

The international tripartite mechanism and several ambassadors of Arab states in Khartoum have met at the residence of Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jaafar to support the Sudanese efforts to reach a political agreement. 

The Saudi ambassador affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness in advancing efforts that serve Sudan’s stability.

The diplomat discussed with the delegation of the tripartite mechanism - the United Nations, African Union (AU), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) – and several Arab ambassadors the ongoing efforts to facilitate the political process among various parties.

A press release issued by the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum stressed the key role played by the Arab countries to back the transitional phase in Sudan.

The embassy hosted a couple of months ago meetings between the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC). The talks were attended by US officials, and they were aimed at promoting dialogue between both sides after months of the military seizure of power on October 25, 2021.

Meanwhile, armed factions under the Democratic Bloc rejected the political settlement between the military and the FFC. 

They demanded that the tripartite mechanism convene with them or else this would undermine its regional and international mandate to resolve the crisis in the country.

Head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (affiliated with the Democratic Bloc) Minni Arko Minnawi said that the Movement was informed that the tripartite mechanism received directives from the military not to deal with the Bloc and to communicate with Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement only.

Minnawi added during a press conference that the current political agreement is forced on Sudan, and it goes against the will of the military component and the FFC coalition.

He stressed that the political agreement must be free of foreign pressure and dictates, urging the tripartite mechanism not to respond to directives from any bloc.

The Democratic Bloc would address the international parties – the Troika and ambassadors of western and Arab countries – to promote dialogue among Sudanese parties, Minnawi stated.

He continued that the Bloc would also send a delegation to the AU and IGAD to brief them on the latest developments in Sudan .



Erdogan Says Türkiye Ready to Help with Ceasefire in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Ready to Help with Ceasefire in Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. (Reuters)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Türkiye was ready to help in any way possible to establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire agreement that has come into effect in Lebanon.

Türkiye, which has fiercely criticized Israel's offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, has previously said it discussed a potential truce in Gaza with Palestinian armed group Hamas and gave the group recommendations on how to proceed with the negotiations.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said the United States would again push for an elusive ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza "with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others".

"We are stating that, as Türkiye, we are ready to provide any contribution for the massacre in Gaza to end and for a lasting ceasefire to be achieved," Erdogan told members of his ruling AK Party in parliament.

Asked about Biden's remarks, a Turkish official told Reuters a ceasefire in Lebanon without a truce in Gaza was not enough to achieve regional stability, adding Ankara was ready to help reach a deal in Gaza, just as it had supported previous efforts.

"We are again ready to help achieve a permanent ceasefire and a lasting solution in Gaza," the official said.

While Ankara has repeatedly traded insults with Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war, it has not officially severed ties with it. Unlike Israel and its Western partners, Türkiye does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and regularly hosts some of its senior members.