African Union Rejects External Interference in Sudan

Smoke is seen rising from Khartoum's skyline, Sudan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. (AP)
Smoke is seen rising from Khartoum's skyline, Sudan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. (AP)
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African Union Rejects External Interference in Sudan

Smoke is seen rising from Khartoum's skyline, Sudan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. (AP)
Smoke is seen rising from Khartoum's skyline, Sudan, Sunday, April 16, 2023. (AP)

The African Union's Peace and Security Council said on Sunday it strongly rejected any external interference that could complicate the situation in Sudan.

Sudan's army appeared to gain the upper hand on Sunday in a bloody power struggle with rival paramilitary forces after blasting its bases with air strikes, witnesses said, and at least 59 civilians were killed including three UN workers.

The fighting erupted on Saturday between army units loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan's transitional governing Sovereign Council, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who is deputy head of the council.

It was the first such outbreak since both joined forces to oust president Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019 and was sparked by a disagreement over the integration of the RSF into the military as part of a transition towards civilian rule.

Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, Russia, Egypt, the UN Security Council and European Union have appealed for a quick end to the hostilities that threaten to worsen instability in an already volatile wider region.



US Sees Possible Gaza Deal This Week, Sullivan Says

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP)
White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP)
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US Sees Possible Gaza Deal This Week, Sullivan Says

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP)
White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP)

The Biden administration sees a possible Gaza truce as soon as this week, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan told Bloomberg News on Monday, adding that there were no guarantees that the parties would agree to such a deal.

Sullivan, speaking to Bloomberg in an interview, added that US President Joe Biden's administration has been in contact with incoming President Donald Trump's team and has sought to have a united front on the issue ahead of Washington's Jan. 20 transition of power.

"The pressure building here towards the end of President Biden's term has been considerable," Sullivan said. "It's there for the taking."

Biden leaves office next week after Democrats lost the White House in November's election, handing back the US government to Trump and his fellow Republicans, who will control both chambers of Congress.

Envoys of both Biden and Trump attended weekend talks on the potential deal.

"The question is now: Can we all collectively seize the moment and make this happen," Sullivan told Bloomberg, adding that Biden had directed him to work closely with the incoming team.