Sudan's Hamdok Calls for Urgent Meeting with Army After RSF Agreement

Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo with Kenyan President William Ruto (RSF media office)
Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo with Kenyan President William Ruto (RSF media office)
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Sudan's Hamdok Calls for Urgent Meeting with Army After RSF Agreement

Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo with Kenyan President William Ruto (RSF media office)
Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo with Kenyan President William Ruto (RSF media office)

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok invited the Sudanese army leadership for an "urgent meeting" to halt the ongoing conflict and prevent further disintegration of the country.

Hamdok, in his capacity as head of the leadership body of the Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), signed an agreement with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), the "Addis Ababa Declaration," after the meetings.

A joint statement from the delegations emphasized their commitment to ending the conflict.

Hamdok expressed optimism about the agreement, stating, "Its outcomes will undoubtedly contribute to the efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan."

The former Prime Minister highlighted key outcomes of the Addis Ababa meetings, including RSF's full readiness for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, measures to protect civilians, facilitating the return of citizens to their homes, delivering humanitarian aid, and cooperating with the fact-finding committee.

A Taqaddum delegation, led by Hamdok, began a visit to Djibouti. He met President Ismail Omar Guelleh, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chair.

IGAD is seeking a meeting between the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Hemedti to stop the war.

A source told Asharq Al-Awsat that during the meeting with Guelleh and his Foreign Minister, the Taqaddum delegation introduced the Coordination and the civilian forces it represents and its agreement with the RSF leadership.

They expressed their desire to hold a similar meeting with the army leadership.

The source explained that the delegation urged IGAD to intensify its efforts to ensure the success of the planned negotiation between the army commanders, with a focus on involving civilians in the process, as outlined in the Addis Ababa Declaration.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Commander held discussions with Kenyan President William Ruto, addressing recent developments in Sudan, the root of the conflict's causes, ways to resolve the crisis, and ways to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Hemedti said he arrived in Nairobi as part of a broader tour to Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya. The visits will consist of other African, Arab, and regional countries, which he did not specify.

He presented President Ruto with his vision for a ceasefire and negotiations to achieve a comprehensive solution to achieve a just peace in the country.

Hemedti sensed an understanding and desire from the Kenyan President to collaborate with all parties to find a way out of the crisis that would restore security and stability to Sudan.



Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.


Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.


Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.