Algeria becomes the second Arab nation to declare official support for Palestine and to confront Israel

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: While searching the internet for the latest news on Sudan and South Sudan, I saw this news report and thought it best to post it here for future reference. Some say Sudan is, or will be, part of a coalition of countries led by Iran intent on annihilating Israel. I am doing my best not to post inflammatory news here. No doubt, the horrors and humanitarian catastrophe in Israel and Palestine will adversely affect the people of Sudan and South Sudan, the delivery of enough aid, and set back progress and hopes for long awaited peace, development and prosperity.

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Algerian parliament authorizes President Tebboune to support Gaza amid Israeli assaults

Report at Al Bawaba 'The Hub of Middle East Content'

By Mansour Al-Maswari

Dated Thursday, 2 November 2023; 07:50 GMT - here is a copy in full:

Demonstrators march with signs in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during a rally in Algiers on October 19, 2023. AFP

Highlights

Algeria becomes the second Arab nation to declare official support for Palestine and to confront Israel.

(ALBAWABA) - In a significant move, the Algerian Parliament has officially authorized President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to enter the conflict in support of Gaza, with a unanimous vote of 100/100. 

This decision comes in response to the escalating Israeli massacres against the Palestinian population in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Algeria becomes the second Arab nation to declare official support for Palestine and to confront Israel. 

View original: https://www.albawaba.com/news/algerian-parliament-authorizes-president-tebboune-support-gaza-amid-israeli-assaults-1540187

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POSTSCRIPT from Sudan Watch Editor

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the 10th largest in the world, it is a predominantly Muslim country of North Africa. Here are snippets from Encyclopaedia Britannica, maps of Africa, Algeria; recent news reports.

Map of Africa (Courtesy: Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Algeria

By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Oct 31, 2023 - excerpts:

Algeria, large, predominantly Muslim country of North Africa. From the Mediterranean coast, along which most of its people live, Algeria extends southward deep into the heart of the Sahara, a forbidding desert where Earth’s hottest surface temperatures have been recorded and which constitutes more than four-fifths of the country’s area. The Sahara and its extreme climate dominate the country. The contemporary Algerian novelist Assia Djebar has highlighted the environs, calling her country “a dream of sand.”

The capital is Algiers, a crowded bustling seaside metropolis whose historic core, or medina, is ringed by tall skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Algeria’s second city is Oran, a port on the Mediterranean Sea near the border with Morocco. Less hectic than Algiers, Oran has emerged as an important centre of music, art, and education.

Map of Algeria (Courtesy: Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Land

Algeria is bounded to the east by Tunisia and Libya; to the south by Niger, Mali, and Mauritania; to the west by Morocco and Western Sahara (which has been virtually incorporated by the former); and to the north by the Mediterranean Sea. It is a vast country—the largest in Africa and the 10th largest in the world—that may be divided into two distinct geographic regions. The northernmost, generally known as the Tell, is subject to the moderating influences of the Mediterranean and consists largely of the Atlas Mountains, which separate the coastal plains from the second region in the south. This southern region, almost entirely desert, forms the majority of the country’s territory and is situated in the western portion of the Sahara, which stretches across North Africa.

Capital: Algiers

Population: (2023 est.) 46,116,000

Form Of Government: multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Council of the Nation [144¹]; National People’s Assembly [462])

Head Of State And Government: President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune, assisted by Prime Minister: Ayman Benabderrahmane

Official Languages: Arabic; Amazigh

Recent News

Oct. 26, 2023, 11:07 AM ET (Yahoo News)

Hamas-Israel conflict: Algeria offers to host Palestine's football matches – the bigger history

Oct. 10, 2023, 12:06 PM ET (AP)

Algeria forces Francophone schools to adopt Arabic curriculum but says all languages are welcome

View original: https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria

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Related News

Algeria Intensifies Efforts to Stop the Fighting in Sudan

Echoroukonline report by Dalila Henache

Dated 30 October 2023 - excerpts:

Algeria is ready to intensify efforts with regional and international partners to stop the fighting between Sudanese parties, taking into account the supreme interest of their country and establishing a new era that meets the ambitions and aspirations of the Sudanese people, President of the National People’s Assembly, Ibrahim Boghali, announced.

During his meeting, on Monday, with the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Algeria, Nadia Mohamed Khair Othman, to review bilateral relations and ways to raise them to the level of the aspirations of the two peoples, Boughali explained, in this regard, “the keenness of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to resolve crises by giving priority to the language of dialogue and refusing to resort to force and foreign interventions,” according to a statement by the NPA’s Council.

Full story: https://www.echoroukonline.com/algeria-intensifies-efforts-to-stop-the-fighting-in-sudan

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Five new realities after four weeks of Israel-Gaza war

BBC News report by Jeremy Bowen, International editor, in southern Israel

Dated Friday, 3 November 2023 - excerpts:

One of the first things to understand about the reportage, analysis and commentary that has poured out since the Hamas attacks of 7 October is that no-one has the full story. Not only is it, as ever, hard to penetrate the fog of war to work out what is happening on the battlefield. The new shape of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has not yet emerged.

Events are still moving fast. Fears that the war could spread are very real. New realities in the Middle East are out there somewhere, but their shape and the way that they will work depend on the way this war goes for the rest of the year, and probably beyond.

Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67306902

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UPDATES - Sat 4 Nov 2023 14:08 GMT; 15:14 GMT:

UK Urges Iran to Use Influence to Prevent Escalation of Israel-Hamas Conflict

Report at Asharq Al-Awsat English by Rabi’ Al-Thani

Dated Saturday, 4 November 2023 - excerpts:

British foreign minister James Cleverly has urged Iran to use its influence with groups in the Middle East region to prevent an escalation of Israel's conflict with Hamas. 

Britain's Foreign Office said Cleverly spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday, telling him "Iran bore responsibility" for the actions of groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, that it has supported for many years. 

Cleverly also reiterated that Iranian-backed threats against people in the United Kingdom were unacceptable and must stop, a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

Full story: https://english.aawsat.com/world/4647391-uk-urges-iran-use-influence-prevent-escalation-israel-hamas-conflict

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Algeria Will Again Send an Ambassador to Spain After 19-Month Diplomatic Crisis

Report at Asharq Al Awsat English

Dated Sat, 4 Nov 2023 - excerpts:

A breakthrough in the strained relations between Algeria and Spain is looming after reports that Algiers plans to send a new ambassador to Madrid, ending a 19-month diplomatic crisis.

Senior Algerian political sources said the two countries are in the process of resolving their crisis, adding that their relations are about to return to normal.

Full story:

https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4647561-algeria-will-again-send-ambassador-spain-after-19-month-diplomatic-crisis

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Iran, Qatar Coordinate Efforts to Support Palestine

Report from Tasnim News Agency, Iran

Dated 15 October 2023 - 10:39 - excerpt:

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar weighed plans for cooperation among Muslim nations to assist the people of Gaza and force the Israeli regime to end its brutal strikes on Palestinians.

Full story: 

https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/10/15/2971951/iran-qatar-coordinate-efforts-to-support-palestine

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South Sudan plans to join the Non-Aligned Movement

THE Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum for 120 countries that are not formally siding with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide. About 52 African nations except South Sudan and Western Sahara are NAM members. It also has 17 Observer Countries and 10 Observer organisations. Read more.

Report published at Africa-Press.net
Dated Monday 12 June 2023; 16:02 - here is a full copy:

South Sudan plans to join league of neutral nations

(Africa-Press – South-Sudan) - South Sudan’s Governance Cluster headed by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar [pictured] on Friday disclosed that the country plans to join Non-Aligned Movement.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum for 120 countries that are not formally siding with or against any major power bloc.

After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.

It was founded in 1961 with the view of advancing the interests of developing countries in the context of Cold War confrontation between the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union.

Cabinet Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro said on June 9, the cluster will present a draft to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Speaking to the state television SSBC, Lomuro said the cluster discussed the advantages of joining the neutral nations without disclosing the benefits.

“We wish to become a member of Non-Aligned Movement, currently chaired by Azerbaijan,” he said.

“We have discussed generally the benefit of joining us Non-Aligned Movement and in the end, we recommended this step and we presented a memo that we go to the council of ministry for final approval.”

About 52 African nations except South Sudan and Western Sahara are NAM members.

Algeria was the first African country to join the movement in 1969 while Zimbabwe was considered as the last country in Africa to be a part of the aligned in 1979.

The bloc played a crucial role in decolonization, the formation of new independent states, and the democratization of international relations.

The movement is governed by five principles: mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in domestic affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful co-existence.

It also has 17 Observer Countries and 10 Observer organizations.

View original: https://www.africa-press.net/south-sudan/all-news/south-sudan-plans-to-join-league-of-neutral-nations

[Ends]

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Post script from Sudan Watch Editor:

NAM celebrated its 60th anniversary in Belgrade on 11-12 Oct 2021. Belgrade is the capital city of Serbia. 

As per Wikipedia, Belgrade is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe and the world. One of the most important prehistoric cultures of Europe, the Vinča culture, evolved within the Belgrade area in the 6th millennium BC. Here is NAM's logo. 

Image: Logo of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Credit: Wikipedia

Image: Closing ceremony of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit with the presence of members’ heads of state with an inaugural speech by supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Non-Aligned Movement celebrated its 60th anniversary in Belgrade, on 11–12 October 2021. Credit: Wikipedia

[Ends]

Sudan Al-Merriekh football news - FIFA hearing April 15 re attacks by Egyptians on Algeria team in Cairo last Nov

Sudan Sports Latest
From SRS - Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 23 March 2010:

(Nairobi) – The International Football Federation (FIFA) will hold a hearing on April 15 regarding the attacks by Egyptians on Algeria team in Cairo late November.

The Algerian team claimed that Egyptian fans threw stones at the team’s bus before their world cup qualifier game against Egypt.

Egypt won the match which led to a playoff in Omdurman. Algeria qualified for South Africa’s world cup finals after beating Egypt 1-0.

Al-Merriekh arrived in Khartoum on Monday evening from Chad where they played a Champions league game against Gazelle FC on Sunday.

Al-Merriekh drew with Gazelle 1-1. Al-Hilal will return to Khartoum on Tuesday from Abidjan.

Amal Atbara will play against Al-Mawrada in Atbara in their premier league match on Tuesday evening.

Sudanese stabbed in Cairo football dispute

Photos: Algeria v Egypt football match held in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan. Algeria beat Egypt 1-0. (Posted at Flickr by Andrew Heavens, Nov 20, 2009)

There is still tension between Egyptian and Sudanese soccer fans following Egypt’s defeat by Algeria in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan two weeks ago.

The Egyptians claimed that they were attacked by Algerian fans after the match and that the Sudanese authorities did nothing to protect them.

Source: Report by SRS - Sudan Radio Service, 8 December 2009:
Sudanese Stabbed in Cairo Soccer Dispute

(Khartoum) – There is still tension between Egyptian and Sudanese soccer fans following Egypt’s defeat by Algeria in Omdurman two weeks ago.

Egyptian fans claim that Sudanese police failed to protect them when fighting broke out between rival supporters after the match.

A Sudanese living in Egypt, Mahir Musa, was attacked on Monday following an argument about the match. He spoke to SRS in Cairo.

[Mahir Musa]:"I had gone to visit my relatives in Alashir. At night I went to buy cigarettes from the kiosk. I politely asked the owner of the shop to hand me a cigarette. He then noticed from the way I spoke that I was from Sudan.

He then started talking to me about the football match. From there I said I was not interested in the cigarettes anymore and that he should give me back my money so I could leave. when I said I didn’t want anything from him, I just wanted my money, he started insulting me, I got annoyed and when I responded suddenly he came out from the kiosk carrying a knife and he and his friend started attacking me by stabbing me. My relatives had to take me to the hospital. This is just one of many the incidents happening to Sudanese in Cairo.”

The Egyptians claimed that they were attacked by Algerian fans after the match and that the Sudanese authorities did nothing to protect them.

Photos: Algeria v Egypt football match held in Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan, posted at Flickr by Andrew Heavens, Nov 20, 2009.



Photo: Algeria v Egypt football match held in Omdurman, near Khartoum, Sudan. Source: Sudan Tribune report November 18, 2009 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt dispatching troops to evacuate soccer fans in Sudan: official

Algeria qualifies for 2010 World Cup Competition after beating Egypt 1-0 in Khartoum - Egypt sending troops to evacuate football fans in Sudan

Unfortunately, this week, all news reports at the website of Sudan Radio Service (SRS) have disappeared due to technical issues. Here is a report, received by email from SRS, dated Thursday, November 19, 2009:

Finally, we bring you this item from the SRS sporting supremo, Francis I. Butili:

19 November 2009 - (Khartoum) - Algeria’s national football team has qualified for the 2010 World Cup competition in South Africa after beating the Egyptian team one-nil in Khartoum.

It is a victory for the Algerians who have been absent from the World Cup for over twenty-four years. Khartoum roared with wild celebrations amidst tight security that was deployed to thwart off violence as tension rapidly built up in the hours preceding the kick-off on Wednesday.

A sports analyst with Al-Ayaam daily newspaper, Badr El-Din El-Basha, said stakes were high for both sides and the two coaches had planned well for their teams to play but the Algerians’ calm on the pitch helped them control the play-off and spiral them to victory.

[Badr El-Din]: “I think Rabah Sadaane, (the Algerian coach) played a clever game. He planned a high level of tactics and was in control. The Algerians were not frightened; they were so calm in contrast to the Egyptian team. You could see in the beginning of the match that the Egyptians were demoralized.”

The winning goal was volleyed in by Algeria's centre-back Aantar Yahya in the thirty-ninth minute of the first half. In response, the Egyptian Pharaohs skewed in several threatening balls before half-time but the brilliant defense of Algeria’s Desert Foxes kept them at bay.

The same defensive power was displayed in the second half and the Foxs’ goalie Fauzi Shawshi saved two or three dangerous shots from the Egyptian strikers. As the minutes drew to the final whistle most Egyptian sports TV channels switched off their live broadcast of the game in despair.

On Thursday morning some channels report that some Egyptian fans were injured on their way to Khartoum airport to board flights for home.

This FIFA-organized match has brought to the fore the need for more sports infrastructure development to be able to host international tournaments in the country. About one-hundred and twenty flights descended and ascended in Khartoum International airport in the span of twelve hours and over fifteen thousand police and security forces were deployed in full riot gear inside and outside the stadium and throughout Khartoum.

Sudan’s poorly-trained football team was knocked out of the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations without scoring any points at all.

End of email report from
Charles Haskins
News Programming Advisor
Sudan Radio Service (SRS)
A project of Education Development Center
Safaricom: +254 715 05 2924
+254 722 20 8598
Thuraya: +882 1643 339 226
Office: +254 (20) 387 0906
Fax: +254 (20) 387 6520
Skype: ackamaracus
www.sudanradio.org
- - -

Here is a copy of a report from Sudan Tribune, Thursday 19 November 2009:
Egypt dispatching troops to evacuate soccer fans in Sudan: official

November 18, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Egyptian government is dispatching special forces to Sudan to evacuate its soccer fans claiming to be targeted by Algerians in the capital, the Egyptian ambassador to Sudan said today.

“The Egyptian soccer fans were subjects to assaults from the Algerian fans in Al-Jomhoriya street,” Afifi Abdel-Wahab told the Youth and Sports radio.

The Egyptian envoy said that he is constant contact with the authorities in Sudan while waiting for Special Forces to arrive.

Abdel-Wahab revealed that the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak phoned the Sudanese presidency calling on them “to control the escalating situation”.

Earlier today, the Egyptian information minister Anas Al-Fiqi threatened the move if Sudanese authorities to protect its citizens.

Algeria beat Egypt 1-0 getting the last ticket to the 2010 soccer world cup held in South Africa.

The match was a special situation after Egypt and Algeria equalized in terms of points and goals requiring a decisive match on neutral ground per FIFA rules.

Historically, the soccer matches between the two countries are unique in the animosity surrounding it though analysts have disagreed on the reasons behind it.

In 1989, the Algerian soccer player Lakhdar Belloumi was accused of seriously injuring an Egyptian physician in the eye after throwing a broken bottle in his face.

The incident followed another crucial World Cup qualifying match between the two teams. Belloumi managed to get out on bail and was rushed back home where he has been unable to leave owing to an arrest warrant issued by Interpol which was rescinded only this year.

The Egyptian media today has reported widespread attacks on its soccer fans in Sudan by Algerian fans and Sudanese police alike.

However, the spokesperson of the Sudanese police speaking by phone at the ‘Cairo Today’ show Brigadier Mohamed Abdel Magid denied the reports.

Amr Adeeb, host of the popular show, interrupted Abdel Magid telling him “Sudanese police should not extend its hands on an Egyptian citizen”.

Mamdooh Ali, the Egyptian medical consultant at the embassy in Khartoum told Adeeb that he has seen few cases of minor injuries among the Egyptians suggesting that the reports were exaggerated.

But a number of Egyptian fans and artists calling from Khartoum said they are besiged trying to hide pleading over the phone for help.

Events in Sudan threaten to evolve into a diplomatic row with Egypt after officials in Cairo accused authorities of failing to protect its citizens.

On Tuesday the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir met with both delegations’ management in a bid to defuse tensions.

But at the Sudanese presidential palace the head of Algeria’s football association publicly rejected a peaceful overture from his Egyptian counterpart, walking away from Samir Zahir who proposed to kiss him to put the troubles behind them.

Egyptian and Algerian fans flowed into Sudan with special charter flights to airlift them for the match.

The attendees included officials, ministers, actors and singers from both sides of the aisle including the personal representative of the Algerian president Abdul-Aziz Bouteflika, his brother and the two sons of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Westerners and U.N. staff were urged to stay well away from the stadium as 15,000 extra police kept tight control over 35,000 supporters in Khartoum’s Al Merreikh stadium.

Heavily armed security forces fired tear gas to chase away thousands of Sudanese fans waiting outside, witnesses told Reuters.

The vast majority of Sudanese appeared to rally behind Algerians, a journalistic source in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune adding that authorities informed newspapers that they will be subject to confiscation if they publish pro-Algerian articles.

“Those Egyptians are so arrogant,” Mohamed Naim Suleman, a student from Darfur told New York Times. (ST)

Check out the 38+ comments at original article from Sudan Tribune.  Also, the following update published here on Friday 07:43 AM GMT UK November 20, 2009.

« View all web results for egypt and algeria match

New York Times

Sudan drawn into Algeria, Egypt soccer spat

Primedia Broadcasting - Eyewitness News - Jean-Jacques Cornish - ‎15 minutes ago‎

Egypt and Algeria had to play each other in an eliminator match because they were level on points and goal difference after in their qualifying group.

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Independent Online - Reuters South Africa

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Novinite.com

At World Cup Qualifiers, Praise for the Little Guys

New York Times - Rob Hughes - ‎18 hours ago‎

The ramifications came later when more violent exchanges between fans and more sharp diplomatic exchanges were reported between Egypt and Algeria. ...

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BBC News

32 injured after Egypt-Algeria match

Independent Online - ‎Nov 15, 2009‎

Thirty-two people, including 20 Algerians, were injured in clashes in and around Cairo after a crunch World Cup football qualifier between Egypt and Algeria ...

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Earthtimes (press release)

Egypt, Algeria feud escalates

News24 - ‎Nov 17, 2009‎

"It might be a good idea to postpone the match," Sawiris said on Tuesday, referring to Wednesday's World Cup qualifier between Egypt and Algeria in Sudan. ...

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