Intense Arab, International Contacts to Stop War in Sudan

The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
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Intense Arab, International Contacts to Stop War in Sudan

The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia and France stressed the importance of stopping the military escalation between the conflicting parties in Sudan, the Sudanese military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), that erupted on Saturday.

During a phone call on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called for ending the violence, and providing the necessary protection for Sudanese civilians and residents in a way that guarantees the security, stability, and well-being of the country and its people.

For its part, Egypt reaffirmed the importance of reaching a cease-fire agreement in Sudan as soon as possible. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his British counterpart, James Cleverly, agreed on maintaining coordination and talks to resolve the crisis.

The Egyptian foreign minister made contacts, on Wednesday, with his counterparts in Britain, Chad and the Sultanate of Oman, to discuss the situation in Sudan.

Shoukry emphasized “the need to deal with the existing conflict as an internal matter,” noting that external parties should “abstain from interfering in a way that fuels the conflict.”

He also underlined the importance of joining international and regional efforts to contain the crisis.

Meanwhile, Türkiye called on both sides of the conflict in Sudan to avoid further bloodshed, and to hold dialogue and reconciliation to find a permanent solution to the country’s problems.

In an interview with Turkish state TV (TRT), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his country’s readiness to provide all means of support to contribute to the stability and peace of Sudan.

“We are following the developments in Sudan with concern. Today, I spoke to my brother [Abdelmadjid] Tebboune, the president of Algeria. I will have talks with both sides in Sudan,” Erdogan said, adding: “Türkiye is ready to provide all means of support to Sudan’s peace and stability.”

He also urged the Sudanese people “to continue to build the country’s future together by putting disputes aside.”

According to a statement by the Algerian presidency, reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, Tebboune and Erdogan discussed “the means to find a solution to contain the situation politically and stop the fighting.”

In this context, the two sides called for “dialogue and upholding the country’s supreme interest.”

On Tuesday, Tebboune proposed a quartet move by the Arab League, the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for East Africa (IGAD), to stop the fighting in Sudan.

He sent letters in this regard to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the current chairperson of the African Union, the President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and the executive secretary of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu.

In a statement, on Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both sides of the conflict to ease tension to avoid more bloodshed, and for dialogue and reconciliation to find a permanent solution to the outstanding problems.



Grundberg in Yemen to Urge Houthis to Accept Peace, Release Detainees

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg arrives at Sanaa Airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, 06 January 2025. (EPA)
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg arrives at Sanaa Airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, 06 January 2025. (EPA)
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Grundberg in Yemen to Urge Houthis to Accept Peace, Release Detainees

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg arrives at Sanaa Airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, 06 January 2025. (EPA)
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg arrives at Sanaa Airport, in Sanaa, Yemen, 06 January 2025. (EPA)

UN Special Envoy for Yemen for Yemen Hans Grundberg arrived in Houthi-held Sanaa on Monday as part of his efforts to urge the Iran-backed militias to accept peace and release employees from the UN and humanitarian agencies.

Grundberg's “visit is part of the ongoing efforts to de-escalate the current tensions that have engulfed the region and Yemen,” UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Monday. “In addition, his efforts will focus on advancing the peace process.”

The Houthis have stepped up their missile attacks against Israel, and have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor for over a year — attacks they say won't stop until there's a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly bombarded Yemen's ports, oil infrastructure and the airport in Sanaa, some 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away.

“We’ll also be pushing for the release of the arbitrarily detained UN personnel and also from other NGOs and civil society,” the UN spokesman said.

The Houthis claim the detainees, most of them held since June, are part of an “American-Israeli spy network,” an allegation vehemently denied by the UN, NGO organizations, governments and others.

Grundberg arrived in Yemen after holding talks with Omani officials in Muscat. Present at the talks was Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam.

The envoy is hoping to make a breakthrough in the Yemeni crisis after his efforts stalled with the Houthis launching their attacks on Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping.

A statement from his office said he is hoping his meetings in Sanaa will lead to the Houthis to take tangible steps to push the peace process forward.

“His visit is part of his ongoing efforts to urge for concrete and essential actions by the Houthis for advancing the peace process. It is also part of his continuing efforts to support the release of the arbitrarily detained UN, NGO, civil society and diplomatic mission personnel,” said the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) on the X platform.

He plans to conduct a series of national and regional meetings in the coming days under his mediation efforts.