Latest news with #SovereignCouncil
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Kamil Idris sworn in as Sudan's new prime minister
KHARTOUM — Kamil Idris was sworn in on Saturday as Sudan's new prime minister before Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereignty Council, amid a deepening civil conflict and worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the country. His appointment follows a constitutional decree issued by al-Burhan on May 19. According to Sudan's official news agency SUNA, the swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Ghali Ali Youssef, Secretary-General of the Sovereign Council, and the head of the judiciary in the Red Sea State, who represented the Chief Justice. Idris, a veteran politician with a PhD in international law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, previously ran as a presidential candidate in the 2010 elections. He succeeds Dafallah Al-Haj Youssef, Sudan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who had been serving as caretaker prime minister and minister of Cabinet affairs. Idris assumes leadership as Sudan continues to grapple with a brutal power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted on April 15, 2023. The conflict has plunged the nation into one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. More than 20,000 people have been confirmed killed, and over 15 million displaced, according to UN figures and local authorities. Some US-based researchers estimate the actual death toll could exceed 130,000. The ongoing violence has overwhelmed aid efforts, disrupted governance, and left millions without access to basic necessities. Idris's swearing-in marks a critical political moment, though it remains unclear how the appointment will affect the power dynamics on the ground or efforts toward peace. Sudan's transitional political process began in April 2019 after the military ousted longtime President Omar al-Bashir. A Sovereignty Council was later formed, with Burhan at its helm, to oversee governance and transition efforts. The council assumed full control following a military takeover in November 2021. — Agencies
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War
The United Nations' special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has issued a stark warning about the continued flow of weapons into the war-torn country, saying it only 'feeds military delusions' and delays peace. In his first in-depth interview since assuming the role earlier this year, Lamamra told Asharq Al-Awsat that peace in Sudan cannot be imposed from outside but must be forged by Sudanese themselves through collective will and unity. 'Peace is not imposed, it is made,' he said. 'And if Sudanese do not make it, it will not come to them from the outside.' Lamamra, an Algerian diplomat and former foreign minister with decades of experience in African mediation, emphasized that no military solution is possible in Sudan's conflict. Instead, he called for an urgent political settlement, warning that 'each day of delay means more fragmentation, more bloodshed.' Following meetings in Port Sudan with Sovereign Council leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and ongoing communications with the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lamamra acknowledged that the path to peace remains long and difficult. He condemned what he described as a dangerous 'logic of dominance' driving the conflict—a belief that complete military victory is possible, regardless of the cost to Sudan's social fabric. 'Some actors still think peace can wait until one side wins,' he said. 'But that's a delusion. There is no military solution.' Instead, he stressed: 'Sudan needs a political solution based on compromise, not revenge.' Since taking office, Lamamra has focused on coordinating rather than expanding international mediation efforts. He voiced concern about the 'overcrowding of mediators,' which he said has allowed Sudanese factions to exploit international divisions. To address this, Lamamra launched a consultative group that includes the African Union, the Arab League, and peace-sponsoring countries. The group has met in Cairo, Djibouti, and Mauritania and plans to convene again in Brussels under EU sponsorship. 'What we need is not more mediators, but consensus around a unified vision,' he said. 'Multiple tracks have allowed some parties to bet on contradictory international positions, delaying serious efforts toward peace.' He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2724, which tasked him with coordinating peace efforts, emphasizing that its implementation hinges on aligning international efforts behind a single, realistic peace strategy. Asked whether Sudan's war has faded from global attention, Lamamra acknowledged that media coverage may fluctuate but said the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen. 'The suffering is daily and ongoing,' he said, highlighting the dire conditions in North Darfur and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zamzam camp. 'The tragedy breaks the heart.' With over 13 million internally displaced and millions more seeking refuge abroad, Lamamra described Sudan as the site of the world's largest humanitarian crisis today. 'This is a country under siege by arms, division, and international silence,' he said. He praised the special attention paid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has longstanding ties to Sudan dating back to his leadership of the UN refugee agency. Lamamra was especially vocal about the dangerous role of foreign military support. 'Feeding the war with weapons is not support for resolution—it is participation in prolonging delusion and division,' he said. He accused some regional and international actors of backing Sudanese factions in hopes of future influence. 'They forget that war leaves nothing intact to control,' he noted. 'It's in no one's interest to see Sudan collapse.' The envoy reiterated the UN's calls for a total halt to arms shipments and strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions aimed at cutting off military funding. Despite international interference, Lamamra emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ending the war lies with Sudanese themselves. 'History will judge them first and foremost,' he underlined. Lamamra said the Jeddah Declaration—an agreement brokered by Saudi Arabia to ensure humanitarian access and civilian protection—remains a viable starting point for peace efforts. He commended Riyadh's efforts and urged regional actors to intensify pressure on warring factions. He also pointed to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad as a potential turning point. 'Sudan is central to the Arab identity. This is not a crisis that allows for neutrality,' he said. In a direct message to the Sudanese public, Lamamra expressed admiration for their resilience. 'I visited Port Sudan recently and met with leaders and citizens. I was moved by their hospitality and strong will to take charge of their future,' he said. He pledged the UN's continued support, acknowledging the scale of the humanitarian challenge: 'Children, women, and innocent civilians are being stripped of life's basic necessities. This crisis demands a moral awakening—not just from governments, but from everyone who hears and sees.' Lamamra concluded: 'Peace is not a one-time event—it's a long-term project. And if we don't begin now, there may be nothing left to build on in a few months.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Kabbashi: Sudan War Nearing End, Arms Proliferation Poses Major Threat
The war in Sudan is nearing its end, a top military official said on Saturday, warning that the widespread availability of weapons could pose one of the biggest threats to the country's stability in the post-war period. Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan's Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, told state governors in the temporary capital of Port Sudan that arms proliferation is a 'major danger awaiting the state.' 'The areas that have been retaken must be handed over to the police for administration,' Kabbashi said, stressing that civilian policing, not military control, should take over in recaptured territories. He also pointed to the need to redeploy troops currently stationed at checkpoints and security outposts in liberated regions. 'We need these forces on other frontlines,' he said. Kabbashi described the rise in hate speech triggered by the conflict as 'unacceptable' and warned that Sudan would face deep social challenges once the fighting stops. According to Kabbashi, the Sudanese armed forces are in a strong position after initial setbacks at the start of the war, as the military seeks to shift focus to restoring internal security and supporting civil governance in liberated areas. 'The situation of the armed forces and supporting units is more than good,' said Kabbashi. 'We were in a bad place at the beginning of the war — now we are more than fine.' Kabbashi added that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is highly focused on ensuring public safety across the country, calling security 'a top priority, ahead of all other services.' He warned, however, that Sudan faces deeper challenges beyond the battlefield. 'The plot against Sudan is bigger than the militia we're fighting — they are only the front,' Kabbashi said, referring to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) without naming them directly. He pointed to rising crime, widespread weapons, and looting as major security threats that emerged during the war, saying state authorities would have a significant role to play in restoring order. Kabbashi urged state governors to back police forces in their efforts to maintain law and order, emphasizing that police support is 'urgently needed' during the current transitional phase.
Daily News Egypt
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and the Head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, discussed the ongoing war in Sudan and bilateral cooperation during talks in Cairo on Monday, the Egyptian presidency said. Egyptian presidency spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that Al-Sisi and Al-Burhan held an initial closed meeting, followed by an expanded session including delegations from both countries. The discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation and reviewed Egypt's potential contribution to efforts aimed at reconstructing and rehabilitating areas damaged by the conflict in Sudan. El-Shennawy added that the talks covered continuing joint projects in vital sectors such as electricity linkage, railways, trade exchange, and cultural and scientific collaboration. Cooperation in health, agriculture, industry, and mining was also discussed, with the goal of achieving desired integration and optimising the use of both countries' potential. The consultations also addressed 'the latest field developments in Sudan, and the field progress achieved by the Sudanese Armed Forces in regaining control of the capital Khartoum,' the spokesperson noted. He said both leaders agreed on 'the necessity of intensifying efforts to provide the necessary support and assistance to Sudanese residing in war zones.' According to El-Shennawy, the meeting included an exchange of views on current regional situations, particularly concerning the Nile River basin and the Horn of Africa. He stated that 'the visions of the two countries aligned due to the close link between the national security of both Egypt and Sudan.' An agreement was reached 'to continue coordination and joint work to preserve the water security of the two states, reject unilateral measures in the Blue Nile basin, and apply international law to achieve common benefit for all sisterly nations in the Nile basin.' Earlier on Monday, Sudan's Sovereign Council had confirmed Al-Burhan's arrival in Cairo for a one-day visit focused on bilateral relations and regional and international developments. Al-Burhan previously met Al-Sisi in Cairo last November during the World Urban Forum. At that time, Al-Burhan affirmed that the Sudanese army and people were 'determined to preserve the state and its institutions and defeat the Rapid Support Forces.' He expressed his aspiration 'to work on preparing for the stage of reconstructing the sectors of the Sudanese state in the post-war phase which will begin soon,' and hoped for 'an effective role from brotherly and friendly countries to develop the urban community in the post-war phase.'
Al Taghyeer
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Taghyeer
Sudan approves UN logistical supply bases around al-Fashir
Head of the Sudan's Sovereign Council cum army Chief Commander received a phone call from UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator on the possibility of delivering aid to al-Fashir. Port Sudan: Altaghyeer The Sudanese army-led government on Monday announced that it has approved a UN request to establish logistical supply bases around al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur State, to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands displaced people. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for control over al-Fashir has recently escalated leading to the collapse of security, health and environmental situation and increasing the number of those who fled Zamzam and Abu Shouk IDPs camps near al-Fashir to Korma and Tawila areas. Head of the Sovereign Council cum Chief Commander of SAF, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received a phone call from UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, during which the two discussed the possibility of delivering aid to al-Fashir while avoiding obstacles posed by the RSF or other groups. Nearly 300,000 residents of Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps have arrived in Tawila area since the beginning of this month while an estimated 500,000 from other IDPs camps fled to the area during the past few weeks, said Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees in Darfur on Sunday.
