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.



Syria, Israel Agree to Further Talks on De-escalating Conflict

A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
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Syria, Israel Agree to Further Talks on De-escalating Conflict

A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Syrian and Israeli officials agreed to meet again after no final accord was reached in US-mediated talks in Paris on de-escalating the conflict in southern Syria, state-run Ekhbariya TV reported on Saturday, citing a diplomatic source.

The source described the dialogue as "honest and responsible", in the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place.

On Friday, US envoy Tom Barrack said officials from both countries spoke about de-escalating the situation in Syria during the talks on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Representatives from the Syrian foreign ministry and intelligence officials were in attendance, Syria's Ekhbariya reported.

Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killings of Druze by government forces.

Last week's clashes underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilizing Syria and maintaining centralized rule, despite warming ties with the US and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel.

The diplomatic source said the meeting involved initial consultations aimed at "reducing tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December".

The Syrian side held Israel responsible for the latest escalation, saying that the continuation of such "hostile policies" was threatening the region, according to the source. The Syrian delegation also said that Damascus would not accept "imposing new realities on the ground".