Showing posts with label Uganda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uganda. Show all posts

Sunday, October 29, 2023

RESCUE MISSION British SAS troops on standby in Cyprus to rescue hostages and Brits stranded in Gaza

Exclusive report at The Sun - thesun.co.uk
By Jerome Starkey
Dated Fri 27 Oct 2023; Updated: 1:05, Sat 28 Oct 2023 - here is a full copy:

RESCUE MISSION SAS troops on standby in Cyprus to rescue hostages and Brits stranded in Gaza

Officials also fear the war could spread, trapping more Brits in Egypt’s Sinai peninsular and Lebanon.


SAS troops are now in Cyprus on standby for hostage rescue missions in Gaza.

The elite soldiers are also braced to free UK citizens trapped by the bloodbath.

SAS troops are now in Cyprus on standby for hostage rescue missions in Gaza Credit: BBC

200 Brits are stranded in Gaza after Israel and Egypt sealed the strip’s borders Credit: 2023 Anadolu


Some 200 Brits are stranded in Gaza after Israel and Egypt sealed the strip’s borders and five are held there by Hamas terrorists.


Britain’s military bases in Cyprus offer a strategic presence in the eastern Med.


And the SAS sabre squadron has been joined on the island by a 100-strong crisis command team.


Their primary focus is the Gaza Strip but officials fear the war could spread, trapping more Brits in Egypt’s Sinai peninsular and Lebanon.


The SAS in Cyprus have the Special Forces Support Group with them and a fleet of their modified helicopters.


A similar joint force scrambled to Cyprus ahead of the Khartoum Airlift that rescued some 2,000 from war-torn Sudan in spring.


A source told The Sun: “The UK has permanent bases in Cyprus.


"You would expect us to make use of them when there is a crisis in the region like this.”


Defence and Border Force staff have also been deployed to Egypt in the hope that Cairo relaxes its chokehold on Gaza’s Rafah border crossing.


The MoD refused to comment on details of Special Forces operations.


Meanwhile, the Israeli army’s most elite fighting force Sayeret Matkal is likely to spearhead any hostage rescue in Gaza.


The shadowy unit, who wear maroon berets, are modelled on the SAS and have the same “Who Dares Wins” motto.


Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is a former team leader in the crack military group, as was his brother.


Yonatan Netanyahu was killed in the famous air hijack hostages rescue involving Sayeret Matkal commandoes at Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976.


View original: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/24552018/sas-troops-standby-cyprus-rescue-gaza-hostages-brits/


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Friday, October 20, 2023

Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy in Sudan concludes Addis meetings, contacts SLM-AW

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: The following report, written in Arabic, was sent to me today by a Sudanese man living and working in England, UK. As he is keen to see peace in Sudan I have used Google translate to document the report here in English. A report by Sudan Tribune, also copied here below, explains who is behind the 'Civil Front'. It is heartening to see former Prime Minister Hamdok's name cited in the Sudan Tribune's report. 
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Report from Al Taghyeer -  altaghyeer.info/en/
Dated 20 September 2023 - here is a full copy (using Google translate):

Civil Front concludes Addis meetings and takes steps to stop war in Sudan


The components of the Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy in Sudan agreed on the importance of strengthening the efforts of all forces calling for stopping the war and restoring democracy, and the need to coordinate between them as soon as possible.


Khartoum: Change


The Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy in Sudan concluded meetings of the Coordination and Communication Authority held on September 17 and 18 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and issued a final statement on the deliberations and decisions.


According to the statement issued on Tuesday, the meeting stressed the need to redouble efforts to confront the plans of the remnants of the former regime calling for the continuation of the war, and discussed the importance of strengthening the efforts of all forces calling for stopping the war and restoring democracy and the need to coordinate between them as soon as possible.


He announced the formation of a committee to communicate with all democratic civil forces to accelerate these efforts, and the meeting adhered to the political vision of the components of the Civil Front.


"Change" publishes the text of the final statement:

Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy

Final communiqué of the meetings of the Coordination and Communication Authority


The meetings of the Coordination and Liaison Committee of the Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy, which lasted for two days (September 17 and 18), concluded in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, these meetings discussed the poor humanitarian situation caused by the war, and the political efforts exerted to work to stop it by building the broadest civil front of democratic forces opposed to it.


At the outset, the Civil Front paid tribute to those who lost their lives in this war, and expressed its full solidarity with the injured, displaced and refugee victims.


It declared its full condemnation of the gross violations of human rights, which varied between killings, occupation of homes and hospitals, looting of property, arrests, kidnappings, rape and many heinous crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces, as well as all violations of killing, aerial bombardment of civilians and arbitrary arrests by the armed forces, and called for a transparent investigation and accountability for all those involved.


The participants stressed the need to redouble efforts to confront the plans of the remnants of the former regime who call for the continuation of this war, use it to demonize the revolution and liquidate its forces, and spread hate speech and ethnic and regional division.


They also discussed the importance of strengthening the efforts made by all civil forces calling for stopping the war and restoring democracy, and stressed the need for coordination between them as soon as possible, and a committee was formed from all categories of the front to communicate with all civil democratic forces to accelerate these efforts and reach the widest civil front that works to end the war, and rebuild the state on the basis of the principles, values and goals of the glorious December revolution.


The meeting adhered to the political vision of the components of the Civil Front, which was contained in the founding statement of the Front on the twenty-seventh of last April, and work to develop it with the rest of the civil democratic forces in response to the new reality produced by the fifteenth of April war and its repercussions.


They agreed to establish a national mechanism for reparations and compensation, including the relevant authorities, to account for all the damage caused by the war, and stressed that any political solution to end it must not fall under the principle of fair and equitable compensation for all those who have been harmed and harmed by this damned war.


They also appreciated the efforts of humanitarian aid workers from local, regional and international institutions and organizations, especially the emergency rooms in Khartoum State and all cities and regions of Sudan, who work in very complex conditions, stressing the need to ensure the delivery of aid to those who deserve it.


In conclusion, it was agreed to activate the organizational, media and humanitarian work to achieve the goals of the interim and future front.

Coordination and Communication Authority

19 September 2023

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia


View original: https://www.altaghyeer.info/ar/2023/09/19/الجبهة-المدنية-تختتم-اجتماعات-أديس/

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Related report


From Sudan Tribune.com

Dated Thursday, 13 October 2023 - here is a full copy:


Sudanese anti-war civilian forces reach out to Darfur holdout group


Image: FFC leaders meet Ugandan president on July 3, 2023


October 13, 2023 (ADDIS ABABA) – A prominent leader of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) revealed that the Civil Front to Stop the War and Restore Democracy forces have been in contact with the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Nur (SLM-AW) to join this collective effort.


Since July of this year, political forces, civil society groups, and some armed movements that are parties to the Juba peace agreement have been engaged in discussions to establish a broad civil coalition. The purpose of this coalition is to exert pressure on the warring factions to cease hostilities and revive the path toward democratic transition.


Nur al-Din Babikir, a member of the FFC leadership and spokesman for the Sudanese Congress Party, told Sudan Tribune that there is coordination between the Front, the SLM-AW, the initiatives led by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and former Sudanese ambassador to the United States Nur al-Din Satti. He added that the purpose of these consultations is to convene a founding conference for the Civil Front.


Babikir stated that the conference’s agenda is centred on halting the conflict by forming a coalition capable of compelling both sides involved in the conflict to cease hostilities. Subsequently, this would pave the way for a political process to restore the civilian-led democratic transition through an agreed project.


He further confirmed that the FFC also consults with IGAD, neighbouring countries, and other regional actors to unify their initiatives. He stressed that these efforts have made some progress towards achieving a ceasefire despite the lack of commitment from both parties.


Also, he announced that the United States and Saudi Arabia are holding consultations to resume the Jeddah process to end the war in the near future, starting with the cessation of hostilities, the establishment of humanitarian corridors to provide aid to the war-afflicted civilians, and a subsequent political process that ends the war.


He pointed out that the Front includes many Sudanese figures representing various bodies, the FFC, and nine coordination committees for Resistance Committees, civil society initiatives, and armed groups.


The SLM-AW rejects the Juba Peace Agreement and refuses to participate in any peace process to end the war in Darfur. In return, the Movement calls for a national conference to discuss issues of identity, wealth distribution, and justice and social justice in the country.


It’s worth noting that the SLM-AW has rejected the Juba Peace Agreement and remains unwilling to participate in any peace process to end the conflict in Darfur. Instead, the group calls for a national conference to address matters related to identity, wealth distribution, justice, and social justice within the country.


The FFC-initiated civilian front has not announced any contact with the Democratic Bloc groups, which includes the SLM led by Minni Minnawi and the Justice and Equality Movement of Gibril Ibrahim.


A severe conflict has been ongoing between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 15 of this year. This has been accompanied by grave violations against civilians, including killings, sexual violence, arrests, forced displacement, and military airstrikes. (ST)


View original: https://sudantribune.com/article278299/


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Monday, July 24, 2023

Sudan FFC opens first meeting in Cairo to end conflict

THIS is Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) first meeting since the outbreak of fighting aimed at forming an initiative to end the conflict in Sudan. It is one in a series of regional visits across Sudan’s neighbouring capitals including Kampala, N’Djamena, and Addis Ababa. Read more.

Report from Ahram Online
By Habiba Hamdy
Published Monday 24 Jul 2023 - here is a full copy:

Sudan FFC opens first meeting in Cairo to end Sudan war


Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) opened its two-day meeting in Cairo on Monday in a bid to end the war in Sudan.

Members of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) commence their planned meeting in Cairo on Monday


This is the FFC’s first meeting since the outbreak of the war aimed at forming an initiative to end the conflict in Sudan. It is one in a series of regional visits across Sudan’s neighbouring capitals including Kampala, N’Djamena, and Addis Ababa.


The present challenges necessitate stopping the war and restoring Sudan’s path towards civil democratic transition, the FFC said in a statement.


The FFC will consult with leaders of Sudanese society in Egypt on ways of building a new future for Sudan and resolving the issues facing the Sudanese people, the bloc added.


Malik Agar, deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, held a series of meetings and political consultations in Cairo recently. He also met with leaders of the FFC to discuss points of view and create national consensus on Sudanese issues.


It is imperative to stop any opportunity for the pre-2019 regime to turn the current conflict into a civil war, the FFC said.


The coalition called on the opposing Sudanese sides, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to reach a ceasefire in the Jeddah talks.


The FFC delegation expressed the need for a comprehensive and equitable political solution in Sudan that would establish a unified national army, democratic civilian rule, and sustainable peace.


The FFC meeting in Cairo is part of Egypt’s efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict.


Earlier in June Egypt hosted the Sudan's Neighbouring Countries' Summit to address the crisis.


Both the SAF and RSF welcomed the results of the meeting where it was agreed that Sudan’s neighboring countries will form a ministerial mechanism  comprising foreign ministers to address the conflict.


The FFC thanked Egypt for hosting the conference and affirmed Egypt’s pivotal role in helping to end the war in Sudan.


Forces of Freedom and Change


The FFC was formed in 2019 following the 2018 civilian protests and subsequent uprising. It consists of many political and rebel factions and formed the main opposition group in the revolution.


They participated in negotiations with the Transitional Military Council and previously signed the Constitutional Declaration that was meant to pave the road for democratic elections.  


The FFC faced multiple criticisms from other Sudanese groups such as the Democratic Bloc and the Sudanese Communist Party for signing the agreement which they believe did not fulfil the needs and demands of the Sudanese people.


Related

Multiple initiatives on Sudan

Sudan violence rages as paramilitaries deny Darfur war crimes


View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/26/1259/505321/War-in-Sudan/War-in-Sudan/Sudan-FFC-opens-first-meeting-in-Cairo-to-end-Suda.aspx


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Sunday, July 09, 2023

IGAD seeks summit to deploy EASF troops in Sudan

IGAD said in a statement today it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access". Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. 


Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the IGAD meeting in Addis Ababa today was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021. IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace. Read more.


Report by Reuters reprinted at yahoo.com

Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland

Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff

Published Monday 10 July 2023, 4:18 PM GMT+1 - here is a full copy:


Eastern African bloc seeks summit to deploy regional force in Sudan


ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - An eastern African bloc called on Monday for a regional summit to consider deploying troops into Sudan to protect civilians, after nearly three months of violence between the army and a paramilitary faction.


Fighting that erupted on April 15 in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, has spread to other parts of the country and driven more than 2.9 million people from their homes.


The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), made up of eight states in and around the Horn of Africa, met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to kick-start a peace process for the conflict in Sudan.


But the initiative faced a setback as a delegation from Sudan's army failed to attend the first day of meetings, having rejected Kenya's president as head of the committee facilitating the talks.


IGAD said in a statement it had agreed to request a summit of another regional body, the 10-member Eastern Africa Standby Force, "to consider the possible deployment of the EASF for the protection of civilians and guarantee humanitarian access".


Sudan is a member of both bodies, as are Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.


Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have so far proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate.


IGAD said it regretted the absence of a delegation from the Sudan army, which it said had earlier confirmed attendance.


Sudan's foreign affairs ministry, which is controlled by the army, said the delegation did not turn up because IGAD had ignored its request to replace Kenya's President William Ruto as head of the committee spearheading the talks.


Ruto "lacks impartiality in the ongoing crisis," the ministry said through the state news agency. Last month it accused Kenya of harbouring the RSF.


Neither Ruto's office nor the Kenyan ministry of foreign affairs responded immediately when Reuters sought comment. The Kenyan government said last month the president was a neutral arbiter who was duly appointed by the IGAD summit.


Following the meeting, Ruto called for an unconditional ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian zone — spanning a radius of 30 kilometres in Khartoum — to aid the delivery of humanitarian assistance.


Talks hosted in Jeddah and sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia were suspended last month. Egypt has said it would host a separate summit of Sudan's neighbours on July 13 to discuss ways to end the conflict.


Unlike the talks in Jeddah, the meeting in Addis Ababa was attended by members of a civilian coalition that shared power with the military in Sudan before a coup in 2021.


IGAD said that along with the African Union, it would immediately start a "civilian engagement process" aimed at delivering peace.


FILE PHOTO: Man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment in Khartoum North


(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw and Hereward Holland; Writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Peter Graff)


View original: https://news.yahoo.com/eastern-african-bloc-seeks-summit-151822183.html 

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Related reports


Sudan Watch - 27 May 2023

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) starts 2-week training rapid reaction forces at UN centre in Uganda

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/eastern-africa-standby-force-easf.html


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