Sudan’s FFC Says Discussions Underway for Appointing a PM

Part of the protests in Khartoum to demand civil rule on March 8 (AFP)
Part of the protests in Khartoum to demand civil rule on March 8 (AFP)
TT

Sudan’s FFC Says Discussions Underway for Appointing a PM

Part of the protests in Khartoum to demand civil rule on March 8 (AFP)
Part of the protests in Khartoum to demand civil rule on March 8 (AFP)

The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) in Sudan revealed on Sunday that discussions are taking place between civilian and military parties to end the political crisis and appoint a prime minister as soon as possible.

“Civilian and military stakeholders are under pressure to finalize the process. So, discussions are taking place and there is an agreement to accelerate the completion of the political process and choose a prime minister who will lead the new transitional government,” Yasir Arman, an FFC spokesman told a press conference on Sunday.

The FFC also welcomed the decision to form a joint committee to monitor the developments in Sudan.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” had announced forming the committee at a meeting they held on Saturday.

On December 5, 2022, the pro-democracy civil forces and the military leaders signed a framework agreement. But al-Burhan and Hemetti had previously diverged over the implementation of the framework agreement and the expansion of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday, al-Burhan and Hemetti decided to end their rift and form a joint security committee from the regular forces, the relevant state agencies and the (signatory) armed movements to follow up on the security situation in the country.

Arman described the meeting of al-Burhan and Hemetti as good and said it brought about a positive change in favor of civil rule and democratic transition.

He called for creating a suitable atmosphere for establishing good relations between the army and the RSF.

“The RSF are a fait accompli, they number more than 100,000 fighters, and they have interests and fears that must be addressed,” said Arman.

Arman conditioned the initiation of the security and military reform workshop on an agreement between the army and the RSF.



Lebanon's Parliament Renews Army Chief's Term in First Session after Ceasefire

Lebanese policeman stand outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 17, 2017. (Reuters)
Lebanese policeman stand outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 17, 2017. (Reuters)
TT

Lebanon's Parliament Renews Army Chief's Term in First Session after Ceasefire

Lebanese policeman stand outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 17, 2017. (Reuters)
Lebanese policeman stand outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 17, 2017. (Reuters)

Lebanon's parliament Thursday renewed the term of army chief Joseph Aoun, who is seen as a potential presidential candidate in next year's vote.

The parliament has seldom met since Israel’s war with Hezbollah began 14 months ago, and has not convened to try to elect a president since June 2023, leaving the country in a political gridlock.

Thursday’s session is the first since a US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday which has left the Lebanese military responsible for ensuring Hezbollah fighters leave the country's south and its facilities dismantled. The army is expected to receive international aid to help deploy troops to deploy in the south to exert full state control there, The AP reported.

Gen. Joseph Aoun is seen as a likely presidential candidate due to his close relationship with the international community and his hold on an institution that is seen as a rare point of unity in the country facing political and sectarian tensions. Lebanon has been without a president since Oct. 31, 2022.

It is unclear whether the decision to renew Aoun's term will impact his chances as Lebanon's next president.

Hezbollah and some of its key allies and their legislators have been skeptical of a Aoun presidency due to his close relationship with Washington.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who spearheaded negotiations with the United States to end the war, also called for parliament to convene on Jan. 9, 2025 to elect a president, the first attempt in almost 19 months.

French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, tasked by French President Emmanuel Macron with helping Lebanon break its political deadlock, observed the session before meeting with Berri and later caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Berri, in an address Wednesday, urged political parties to pick a president that will bring Lebanon's rival groups together, in a bid to keep the war-torn and financially battered country from further deteriorating amid fears of internal political tensions between Hezbollah and its political opponents following the war.

The militant group's opponents, who believe Hezbollah should be completely disarmed, are furious that it made the unilateral decision to go to war with Israel in solidarity with its ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip.