Latest news with #LondonSudanConference
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
UN experts' report accuses Sudan's warring parties of atrocities against civilians
A new UN report has accused both Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of committing widespread atrocities against civilians as they vie for control in a two-year-long civil war that has devastated the country. The report, seen by The National on Tuesday, outlines how Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) resorted to indiscriminate aerial bombardments, particularly around El Fasher, epicentre of the fighting in the southwestern region of Darfur, and partnered with newly recruited militias to launch ground offensives in strategic areas. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) consolidated control over most of Darfur in 2024 through violence. According to the report, these tactics included 'targeted attacks on internally displaced persons, committing widespread acts of conflict-related sexual violence, inciting violence among communities to claim historically contested territories and detaining individuals perceived as aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces'. El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, is a historically significant and strategically vital urban centre in western Sudan. Control of the city has become a flashpoint in the conflict. Sudan descended into war in April 2023, when tensions between SAF, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, erupted into open conflict. What began as a power struggle between the two former allies – who jointly staged a coup in 2021 –has spiralled into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, although estimates for the death toll are uncertain, and over 13 million have been displaced. Some areas of the country are facing famine as aid agencies struggle for access to deliver relief supplies. Earlier this month, 22 countries and a coalition of NGOs working on war relief efforts in Sudan met in Britain's capital for the London Sudan Conference, the latest in a series of international mediation efforts that have ended without a breakthrough. The report, which was compiled by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan and submitted to the Security Council, says civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, with over 470,000 people displaced from El Fasher alone. 'Many more [were] subjected to arbitrary arrests, sexual violence and targeted killings,' per the report. 'The humanitarian crisis was further compounded by the obstruction of aid delivery, with both SAF and RSF exploiting bureaucratic processes and checkpoints to control resources. Civilians in RSF-controlled territories faced acute food shortages and endemic violence, while indiscriminate air strikes by SAF decimated critical infrastructure, leaving urban populations trapped and vulnerable.' The Sudanese army had previously accused the UAE of 'complicity in genocide' for allegedly arming the RSF and has brought a case to the International Court of Justice. The UN report does not mention these allegations. The UAE has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling them 'false and baseless'. 'UN Security Council's final report on Sudan exposes grave violations by warring parties and debunks false SAF accusations against the UAE,' wrote Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President of the UAE, on X. 'We call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, serious peace talks, unhindered humanitarian aid and independent civilian government.' The UAE is one of Sudan's top humanitarian donors, having contributed over $3.5 billion in aid over the past decade. Since the outbreak of the conflict, it has provided more than $600 million in relief assistance. The Emirates has also expressed growing concern about the regional implications of Sudan's instability, particularly its impact on Red Sea maritime security. 'Port Sudan is increasingly mirroring the situation in Al Hodeidah, Yemen, by endangering freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, posing a significant global threat to international maritime security,' a senior UAE official told The National. The Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Sudanese army in Sudan, both facing international sanctions, maintain control over strategic ports along the Red Sea. The Houthis, backed by Iran, hold key Yemeni ports such as Hodeidah, which is vital for humanitarian aid and maritime traffic. From their coastal positions, the Houthis have launched numerous missiles and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea in attacks they say are being conducted in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's war on Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Meanwhile, Sudan's military controls key ports, including Port Sudan, a vital hub for trade and oil exports. Observers argue that both groups' grip on Red Sea access points raises concerns about the security of global maritime routes and the politicisation of trade.
The National
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Sudan's Al Burhan meets Egypt's El Sisi in Cairo amid shifting war dynamics
Sudan 's army chief and de facto leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo on Monday following recent gains by the Sudanese army against their rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the collapse of international mediation efforts this month. Mr El Sisi and Gen Al Burhan held closed-door meetings which addressed, among other things, the 'progress made by the Sudanese Armed Forces in the field and its recent retaking of the capital Khartoum', according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. Gen Al Burhan was accompanied by ٍSudan's acting Foreign Minister, Hussein El Amin, who told the Sudan News Agency the army chief received an invitation to Cairo from Mr El Sisi on April 15, the second anniversary of the start of the war. On the same day, 22 countries and a coalition of NGOs working on war relief efforts in Sudan met in Britain's capital for the London Sudan Conference, the latest in a series of international mediation efforts that have ended without a breakthrough. The war has claimed more than 100,000 lives, by some estimates, and displaced nearly 13 million people. Some areas of the country are facing famine as aid agencies struggle for access to deliver relief supplies. Monday's meeting also comes two weeks after RSF leader Gen Mohamed Dagalo announced the formation of a rival Sudanese government with plans to issue a new currency and ID cards, and exercise full administrative control over the regions it holds. Cairo is opposed to any division of control over Sudan and views the new rival government as a threat to its national security due to the borders it shares. 'We categorically reject any attempts to undermine the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan, including the rejection of any endeavours to establish a parallel government,' President El Sisi said during a speech in Djibouti last week. Gen Al Burhan, in a speech on Saturday in Khartoum, said the army had "shifted from a defence strategy to an offence strategy'. He pledged to retaliate twofold to any RSF attacks and to put an end to the drone strikes the paramilitary has been accused of launching on civilian areas since its defeat in Khartoum last month. Analysts say the military's recent victories have tipped the scales in its favour and that Cairo aims to build on these gains by boosting the army's international profile. 'This visit comes as the army is seeking to solidify its recent victories and determine the path forward after it regained the capital and large parts of the country. The fact that Al Burhan went to Egypt at this critical time sends a strong message that the Sudanese establishment welcomes Cairo's input," Ahmed Ismail, director of Mashad, an NGO in Paris that monitors the war, told The National. 'Egypt and El Sisi have enjoyed an exceptionally high international profile lately because of the central role it has played in both the mediations of the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan," he said. "So hosting Al Burhan now, while there is attention, will also send a message to the world that all political manoeuvring in the Horn of Africa will have to go through the military establishments of both Egypt and Sudan." Cairo has so far been one of the Sudanese army's main allies in the civil war, and Mr El Sisi, a former military general, has maintained strong ties with Gen Al Burhan, whom he has hosted in Cairo several times since the outbreak of the war, most recently for an Arab summit on Gaza in early March. Mr Ismail said that with divisions among the regional stakeholders becoming increasingly apparent, the meeting between Gen Al Burhan and Mr El Sisi 'strongly suggests that Khartoum and its military de facto ruler will now move further into the orbit of Cairo'. The Sudanese military-dominated government is the UN-recognised representative of the people of Sudan.
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kenya Discuss Enhancing Bilateral Relations and Regional Security
Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, met with His Excellency Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE and Kenya, as well as opportunities to enhance people-to-people ties and joint cooperation across several sectors. During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the London Sudan Conference, the two sides also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in Sudan and regional efforts to support a political resolution; where both sides agreed on the importance of constructive cooperation with African partners, including the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The UAE stressed the importance of an African role in addressing regional crises, including Sudan, and reaffirmed its constant calls for African-led solutions. Her Excellency Nusseibeh emphasized that 'The UAE stressed again the essential role of the African Union to help bring about a ceasefire in Sudan between the warring parties and a transition to an independent civilian led government.' Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of having institutions, such as the United Nations, take a stronger stance on the weaponization of humanitarian aid. Attendees from the UAE side included His Excellency Mansour Belhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
UAE, Kenya discuss enhancing bilateral relations, regional security
Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, met with Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE and Kenya, as well as opportunities to enhance people-to-people ties and joint cooperation across several sectors. During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the London Sudan Conference, the two sides also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in Sudan and regional efforts to support a political resolution; where both sides agreed on the importance of constructive cooperation with African partners, including the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The UAE stressed the importance of an African role in addressing regional crises, including Sudan, and reaffirmed its constant calls for African-led solutions. Nusseibeh emphasised that 'The UAE stressed again the essential role of the African Union to help bring about a ceasefire in Sudan between the warring parties and a transition to an independent civilian led government.' Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of having institutions, such as the United Nations, take a stronger stance on the weaponisation of humanitarian aid. Attendees from the UAE side included Mansour Belhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Al Etihad
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE, Kenya discuss enhancing bilateral relations, regional security
17 Apr 2025 13:34 ABU DHABI (WAM)Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, met with Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE and Kenya, as well as opportunities to enhance people-to-people ties and joint cooperation across several the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the London Sudan Conference, the two sides also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis in Sudan and regional efforts to support a political resolution; where both sides agreed on the importance of constructive cooperation with African partners, including the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The UAE stressed the importance of an African role in addressing regional crises, including Sudan, and reaffirmed its constant calls for African-led emphasised, 'The UAE stressed again the essential role of the African Union to help bring about a ceasefire in Sudan between the warring parties and a transition to an independent civilian led government.'Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of having institutions, such as the United Nations, take a stronger stance on the weaponisation of humanitarian aid. Attendees from the UAE side included Mansour Belhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
