Communique of Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit held in Cairo Egypt 13 July 2023

Report from SIS (Egypt State Information Service)
Published Thursday 13 July 2023; 07:41 PM - here is a full copy:

Communique of Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit

Upon the invitation of H.E. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the heads of state and governments of the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan, with the presence of the Chairman of the African Union Commission and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, met in Cairo on July 13, 2023 to attend the “Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit”. They discussed various aspects of the situation in Sudan and deliberated on possible solutions to end the crisis. The leaders agreed on the following:

1- Expressing their deep concern regarding the ongoing military confrontations and the continuous deterioration of the security and humanitarian situations in Sudan. The leaders called on the parties to the conflict to de-escalate the situation and commit to an immediate and sustainable cease-fire to end the war, and avoiding further loss of innocent civilian Sudanese lives and destruction of property.

2- Affirming their full respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. The leaders agreed that the current conflict is an internal Sudanese affair, and stressed the need for ending any external interferences in the crisis. Such interferences protract the conflict and obstruct efforts to contain its escalation and reach an agreed settlement that will restore stability and security in Sudan.

3- Reiterating the importance of preserving the Sudanese State and its institutions, and preventing the fragmentation of the country, or descent into chaos that could lead to the spread of terrorism and organized crime, and other serious impacts on the national security of neighboring states and overall regional stability.

4- Stressing the utmost priority of formulating a comprehensive approach to addressing the current crisis and its humanitarian ramifications, including pertaining to those internally displaced and the growing influx of refugees fleeing the conflict to neighboring states, a challenging situation that creates growing pressure on the resources of neighboring states. The leaders called on the international community and donor countries to shoulder their responsibility through upholding pledges made at the “Ministerial-level Pledging Event to Support the Humanitarian Response in Sudan and the Region”, attended by Sudan’s neighboring states on June 19, 2023.

5- Expressing grave concern regarding the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, and condemning the repeated attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities and public services outlets. The leaders also called on the international community to step up efforts to provide crucial humanitarian aid, and to address urgent shortages in food and medical supplies in Sudan, as a measure towards alleviating the serious hardships caused by the crisis on innocent civilians.

6- Agreeing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid provided to Sudan through the territories of neighboring states, in coordination with relevant international agencies and organizations, and to strongly promote the establishment of safe passage for aid deliveries to the most affected and vulnerable areas. In this context, the leaders urged various Sudanese parties to provide the necessary protection for humanitarian assistance and personnel and to facilitate their mission in delivering assistance to those in need.

7- Emphasizing the pressing need for a political solution to stop the ongoing conflict. To this end, the leaders called for an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue between Sudanese parties, prioritizing the aspirations and prosperity of the Sudanese people through the restoration of stability and security to the country.

8- Agreeing to form a Ministerial Mechanism comprised of foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighboring states to coordinate common efforts to resolve the current conflict. The Ministerial Mechanism shall hold its first meeting in N’Djamena and will be mandated to take the following measures:

A- Develop an action-plan that includes practical steps towards stopping the fighting and reaching a comprehensive solution to the crisis through direct communication with various Sudanese parties, in complementarity with the existing mechanisms, including the IGAD and AU.

B- Discuss measures required to address the impact of the crisis on the future of Sudan’s stability, unity and territorial integrity, as well as to protect and preserve Sudan’s national institutions. The Ministerial Mechanism shall also discuss steps to contain the negative effects of the crisis on neighboring states, and agree on a delivery mechanism to provide humanitarian aid and relief to the Sudanese people.

C- The Ministerial Mechanism shall present its recommendations to the next Sudan’s Neighboring States Summit.

View original:

https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/183662/Communique-of-Sudan’s-Neighboring-States-Summit/

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Sisi heads for Kenya to attend AU mid-year meeting

The 5th Mid-Year Coordination Summit of African Union Bureau of the Assembly will be held in Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow (Sun 16 Jul) in the presence of Egyptian President El-Sisi. Read more.

Report from SIS (Egypt State Information Service) https://www.sis.gov.eg/

Published Saturday 15 July 2023, 12:46 PM - here is a full copy (Update: added 4 photos and text)

Ambassador: Kenya appreciates Egypt's great efforts to solve pending issues in Africa, Sudanese crisis

Egyptian Ambassador in Nairobi Wael Nasreddin Attia said Kenya is appreciating greater efforts exerted by Egypt to solve pending issues in the African continent, with special focus on attempts to find a solution to the crisis in Sudan.

Attia told MENA on Saturday 15/07/2023 on the sidelines of the convocation of the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Summit of African Union Bureau of the Assembly that Kenya is appreciating as well Cairo's calls to Sudan's neighboring countries to discuss ways of stopping bloodshed in Sudan and restore security and stability to the important Arab, African state.

The Summit will be held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Sunday, in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Attia further asserted the utmost keenness of the two states to tap new vistas of cooperation to attain a quantum leap in the level of bilateral ties.

The Egyptian diplomat pointed out to the friendly relations binding Cairo and Nairobi amid rapprochement of viewpoints and joint interests between the two countries and turmoil in regional and international arenas, which, he added require the coordination of all efforts and unity of the African ranks.

He also referred to contacts between President Sisi and the Kenyan president regarding a number of issues of mutual concern, topped by the situation in Sudan and Somalia.

The ambassador said Egypt is always coordinating with all countries concerned with the Sudanese crisis.

Egypt and Kenya enjoy distinguished relations and share interests, he said, adding both countries agree on the way to address climate issues, given Egypt played host to COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh in November. 

View original: https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/183684/Ambassador-Kenya-appreciates-Egypt's-great-efforts-to-solve-pending-issues-in-Africa%2c-Sudanese-crisis

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Sisi heads to Nairobi to attend AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting on Sunday

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El-Sisi will deliver a speech presenting Egypt's ambitious two-year roadmap as the current chair of the Steering Committee of the African Development Agency (NEPAD) …African leaders and heads of government will convene in the 5th MYCM under the AU's 2023 theme: “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation”

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/504793.aspx

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Ahram Online - Wednesday 12 July 2023
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/504660.aspx

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Egypt SIS - Saturday 15 July 2023; 12:53 PM
https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/183685/Sisi-heads-for-Kenya-to-partake-at-AU%E2%80%99s-5th-MYCM

Egyptian and Eritrean presidents discuss ways to resolve Sudan crisis and end bloodshed
Egypt SIS - Thursday 13 July 2023; 10:22 PM
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting with President of Eritrea Isaias Afwerki in Cairo on the sidelines of their participation at Sudan’s neighbouring countries summit on Thursday, discussing possible resolutions for the crisis and bloodshed in Sudan.
https://sis.gov.eg/Story/183666/Egyptian-and-Eritrean-presidents-discuss-ways-to-resolve-Sudan-crisis-and-end-bloodshed/

UPDATE Sat 15 Jul 2023 23:46 BST

President Sisi arrives in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday 15 July 2023

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addressed a speech to President Ruto, President of Kenya, and the brotherly Kenyan people in the visitor’s record at the outset of his visit to Kenya to participate in the coordination meeting of the African Union and African regional economic groupings:

“I am pleased to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to His Excellency President William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, for his kind hospitality and warm reception”.

I express my happiness to be in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, wishing my brother, His Excellency President Ruto and the brotherly people of Kenya, further prosperity and progress.”

Objectives of the African Coordination Summit

The African Coordination Meeting was launched in 2019 under the Egyptian chairmanship of the African Union. It was established as part of efforts toward the institutional reform of the Union, the division of labour and tasks between the African Union Commission and regional economic groupings, and the enhancement of the course of regional integration among the continent's countries, particularly with regard to economic integration, the most significant steps of which was launching the African Continental Free Trade Area under the AU’s Egyptian chairmanship in 2019.

President's visit program

President El-Sisi is set to deliver a speech, outlining Egypt's plan in its capacity as current chair of the Steering Committee of Heads of State and Government of the African Development Agency (NEPAD). In his capacity as current chairperson of the United Nations Climate Conference, the President will also address the Environment and Climate Change Session, showcasing Egypt's efforts to address the impacts of climate change on African countries.

President El-Sisi is expected to hold talks with his brother, President of Kenya, William Ruto, to explore mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, ways to address the concerns of the African continent, as well as developments in regional issues and dossiers of mutual interest. They will also discuss cooperation to strengthen the frameworks of joint African action in order to push forward the development process and promote integration in the continent.

PHOTOS Courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency

View original:

https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/183696/President-El-Sisi-visit-to-Kenya-to-participate-in-the-coordination-meeting-of-the-African-Union

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Arab countries welcome the final communique of Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit in Egypt

Note, this report says "the acting government of Sudan, the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), as well as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) welcomed the results of Sudan's Neighbouring Countries Summit".

Report from Ahram Online 
Published Saturday 15 July 2023 - here is a full copy:

Arab countries welcome communique of Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit in Egypt

A number of Arab countries have welcomed the final communique of the Sudan’s Neighbouring States Summit held in Egypt on Thursday as a step towards reaching a peaceful solution to the Sudanese crisis.

This handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C), accompanied by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (C-L) and intelligence chief Abbas Kamel (C-R) attending a regional summit for neighbouring nations impacted by the three-month war between Sudan s rival generals in Cairo on July 13, 2023. AFP

The summit in Cairo brought together Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, along with the secretary-general of the Arab League and the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson, about three months after the conflict erupted in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The summit has agreed on eight points mentioned in the communique, most notably the formation of a ministerial mechanism comprising the foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighbours to address the conflict, which has had severe impacts on regional countries.

Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, Tunisia, Yemen, Palestine and Sudan have welcomed the communique, hailing Egyptian efforts in hosting the summit.

In a statement on Friday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the communique as an “important step that is part of the regional and international endeavours aiming to stop the fighting in the sisterly Republic of the Sudan with dialogue and peaceful means.”

The Qatari state looks forward to seeing the outcomes of the summit and other endeavours pave the way for a permanent resolution to the armed conflict in Sudan, the ministry stressed.

Expanded negotiations including all political forces in Sudan should follow the ceasefire in order to reach a sustainable peace that fulfills the aspirations of the Sudanese people for stability, development and prosperity, the ministry added.

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the communique, affirming the importance of reaching a ceasefire and resolving the conflict peacefully through dialogue.

President El-Sisi Participates in the Final Session of Sudan’s Neighboring Countries Summit

Jordan also voiced support for all efforts towards a solution to the Sudanese crisis, including the summit in Cairo, said the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said.

The Omani Foreign Ministry, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs all expressed appreciation for Egypt's efforts in hosting the summit, called for an immediate end to the fighting, and for security, peace and dialogue in Sudan.

In a statement from the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Yemen hailed the great and fruitful efforts led by Egypt's President El-Sisi at the summit as a means to ending the bloodshed and fulfilling the Sudanese people’s aspirations to achieve peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the acting government of Sudan, the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), as well as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) welcomed the results of Sudan's Neighbouring Countries Summit.

The crisis in Sudan has significantly affected the country’s neighbours, which have received hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees over the past three months.

Thursday’s summit warned that prolonging the crisis will result in an increasing number of refugees, overwhelming the capabilities of neighbouring countries.

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Sudan's neighbouring countries to form ministerial mechanism to address crisis: Summit’s final statement

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Video: Egypt president and Ethiopia PM discuss Sudanese crisis, GERD ahead of Sudan’s summit

 

View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/504788.aspx

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NEW COLD WAR? Africa must not become ‘geostrategic battleground’ warns AU leaders

Report at TheAfricaReport.com

By AFP (Agence France-Presse)

Dated Friday 26 May 2023; 09:24 - full copy:

NEW COLD WAR?

Africa must not become ‘geostrategic battleground’ warns AU

Moussa Faki Mahamat (1st L), Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) looks at a photo exhibition during the 60th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Amanuel Sileshi / AFP)

Africa must not become a “geostrategic battleground” for global powers, as it grapples with several threats to its own peace and security, African Union leaders warn.

The continent of 1.3 billion people has found itself at the centre of a tussle for influence among the major powers, which has redoubled since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago.

And just as the AU marked the anniversary of the creation of its forerunner, the Organisation of African Unity, on this day in 1963, Ukraine itself announced it wanted to boost ties with Africa.

“In this international context of confrontation of divergent political interests, the will of each side threatens to transform Africa into a geostrategic battleground, thereby creating a new Cold War,” AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said.

“In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalisation of our member states,” he added in an address at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Moscow is seeking deeper political, economic and military ties in Africa as well as Asia as Russia becomes increasingly isolated on the international stage over the conflict in Ukraine.

‘Capacity for resilience’

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who is currently on a tour of Africa, on Wednesday urged certain African nations to end their “neutrality” over the war.

In February, 22 AU member states abstained or did not vote on a UN General Assembly resolution that called for Russia withdraw from Ukraine.

Two of them – Eritrea and Mali – voted against the resolution.

And in a statement to mark the pan-African body’s anniversary, Kuleba also announced a Ukrainian diplomatic push on the continent.

“We want to develop a new quality of partnership based on three mutual principles: mutual respect, mutual interests, and mutual benefits,” he said, announcing plans to establish new embassies in Africa and hold a Ukraine-Africa summit.

In this zero-sum game, where the gains of others would translate into losses for Africa, we must resist all forms of instrumentalisation of our member states.

Moscow itself has scheduled a Russia-Africa summit in July, following a trip to several African countries at the start of the year by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

China and the US have also despatched their foreign ministers to the continent in rival diplomatic offensives this year.

Beijing has funded major infrastructure development in Africa but denies Western charges it is practising “debt-trap diplomacy”, while Russia is a key arms exporter and is making forays through mining projects, analysts say.

‘Conflicts and terrorism persist’

Faki meanwhile also hailed the successes of the 54-nation AU which succeeded the OAU in 2002: “Independence and victory against apartheid, that of significant economic and scientific progress, sports, arts, the growing international role of Africa and so on.”

However, he also acknowledged “negative factors such as democratic decline through unconstitutional changes of government, with their litany of oppression and gagging of freedoms, insecurity, the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, the uncontrolled circulation of arms, the harmful effects of climate change”.

Despite the difficulties, Faki said, Africa remains “characterised by its greater capacity for resilience”, pointing for example to its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The current head of the African Union, Comoros President Azali Assoumani also denounced “the unconstitutional changes of power” which have multiplied in Africa in recent years.

“Inter and intra-African conflicts but also terrorism persists and consequently the peace, security, democracy and development of our continent are threatened in several of our countries,” he said.

Assoumani spoke of the conflict between rival generals in Sudan which erupted in mid-April and has persisted despite several truce agreements.

“We must convince our brothers in Sudan to favour dialogue so that the fratricidal war raging in this country ends,” he added.

View original: https://www.theafricareport.com/310874/africa-must-not-become-geostrategic-battleground-warns-au/

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Jan Pronk: "Sudan? Europe is busy with itself"

NOTE from Sudan Watch Ed: This report was written in Dutch by Prof Jan Pronk of The Netherlands, UN Special Envoy to Sudan from 2004 to 2006. 

Google Translator enabled me to produce the following translation but it doesn't do justice to his excellent English, communication and writing skills. 

Hopefully, readers will make allowances for this version that's been stripped of the personality and character of a great humanitarian by a machine.

Jan Pronk (pictured) was UN Special Envoy to Sudan from 2004 to 2006.

Opinion editorial from NRC Netherlands - https://www.nrc.nl/

By JAN PRONK

Dated 05 May 2023 - full copy, translated from original Dutch version:

Jan Pronk: "Sudan? Europe is busy with itself"

Sudan Diplomatic pressure was minimal, economic sanctions were not forthcoming, the arms trade flourished. In the run-up to the civil war in Sudan, the international community has looked away, writes Jan Pronk

Sudanese refugees just across the border in Chad, near Koufroun.

Photo Gueipeur Denis Sassou / AFP)

Was to prevent the civil war in Sudan, which erupted last month? When conflicts arise mainly from deeper internal contradictions – ethnic, religious or economic – it is difficult to get a grip on them from the outside. We learned that lesson. International intervention consists mainly of humanitarian aid. 

And UN peacekeeping operations, if they take place at all, are given a limited mandate: protect victims and try to stabilize the situation so that conflict parties can seek a political solution themselves. But no matter how limited that ambition is compared to thirty years ago, the results are small. More and more countries in Africa and Asia are plagued by internal conflicts of violence. The number of victims and refugees is increasing alarmingly.

Sudan, too, has been hit by deep divisions since it gained independence in 1956. The civil war between North and South claimed hundreds of thousands of victims. He ended in 2012 with the declaration of South Sudan as an independent state. The genocide in Darfur, shortly after the beginning of this century, is not yet history. Throughout Sudan, North and South, ethnic conflicts continue to cause casualties. 

Throughout Sudan, North and South, ethnic conflicts continue to cause casualties. Contradictions between Islamic fundamentalists and others are becoming sharper. The distance between the population in the Nile Delta and beyond is increasing. Economic inequality is widening. Young people see less and less perspective.

But the battle between President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's army and the militias of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemedti) is mainly about power and control over the country's wealth. Other contradictions were subordinated to the interests of the army and paramilitaries. 

But while the underlying contradictions cannot be easily influenced from the outside, the outside world did have the opportunity to prevent the current brutal power struggle. That has not been done.

On horseback and by camel

When an uprising broke out in Darfur in 2003 against the regime in Khartoum, President Bashir, who had come to power in a military coup in 1990, tried to defeat the guerrillas by deploying militias of Arab tribes.

The army couldn't do it alone. Many soldiers were from Darfur themselves and unwilling to go all out. The militias did. They were given carte blanche and made no distinction between rebels and unarmed civilians.

The army cooperated with them by carrying out bombing raids. The population fled in panic and fell prey to pursuers on horseback and by camel. Villages were set on fire and wiped off the map. Immediately afterwards, the militias disappeared like snow in the sun, until another attack. Four hundred thousand people died.

Two million others fled to camps in Darfur and Chad, across the border. They were received by the UN and aid workers, but were not safe there.

Bashir and his predecessors had used the same tactic before, in the fight against the South. It was a tried and tested method and it cost Khartoum little. The militias were allowed to loot and loot at will. 

In Darfur they were known as the Janjaweed: 'Devils with a horse and a gun'. They did not need heavier weapons to kill women, children and unarmed elderly men. Large parts of Darfur were ethnically 'cleansed'.

Villages were set on fire and wiped off the map

The international uproar over the genocide was great. Then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan personally negotiated with Bashir in Khartoum and reached an agreement. The Janjaweed would be disarmed. But that didn't happen. The Security Council protested, but did not act. 

The killing continued. Negotiations between the government and the rebels resulted in a peace agreement, but that did not last. The army attacked villages where it suspected that the villagers were sheltering rebels, even though the inhabitants themselves adhered to the truce.

The international outrage over the actions of the Janjaweed and the army was not followed up. Bashir was summoned by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He didn't come.

If he visited another country, he was obliged to arrest him. That didn't happen. He visited Qatar, met the new UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, who was content to shake his hand. 

The Security Council kept quiet so as not to jeopardize Bashir's agreement to South Sudan's coming independence. The regime got away with everything. So does the Janjaweed. Diplomatic pressure was minimal. There was no political pressure. Economic sanctions as well. The arms trade flourished. 

The Janjaweed were transformed into Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The former genocide perpetrators received support from the European Union to guard Sudan's borders and stop refugees who wanted to move to Europe via Chad and Libya. Brussels hypocrisy at its best.

Gulf states jump into the hole

In 2018, civilians revolted against the regime. For the first time in thirty there was a loud call for democracy. Bashir was jailed on charges of corruption — not war crimes.

The new ruler Burhan promised to cooperate in the formation of a civilian government. It came for a while, but was sent away two years later by the military and the RSF with combined forces. The Janjaweed-new-style resumed cooperation with the army.

It was agreed to integrate the militias into the army, but they now had so many weapons and money that they felt strong enough to resist. That was the beginning of this civil war.

The civilian population was defeated and slaughtered. The outside world had looked to the side for the umpteenth time. Foreigners were picked up in haste, as they were in Afghanistan, Rwanda and Vietnam. It stands in stark contrast to the EU's treatment of African, Arab and Asian refugees trying to escape war, oppression and genocide.

China, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are jumping into the gap left by Europe. The EU lacks a vision of Sudan and other countries in the region. Things are just as bad there. In Chad it was unsettled, in Ethiopia war was fought this year. Eritrea and Egypt are ruled by dictators.

Somalia is being held hostage by the al-Shabab terror group. In Uganda, repression of dissenters is on the rise. Eastern Congo and the Central African Republic are prey for warlords. Libya is falling apart.

Europe is busy with itself. The problems are indeed great. But those who look away from the problems across the border become problem owners. We already are.

View original: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/05/05/soedan-europa-heeft-het-druk-met-zichzelf-a4163865

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