Showing posts with label Youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Youth. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

FFC civilian group leader Arman urges unified front to end war and achieve democratic transition in Sudan

"A prominent leader of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), Yasir Arman, called for building a unified civil front in the country to end the war and advance the tasks of democratic transition in Sudan.

On Monday, the FFC delegation participated in the closing session of the IGAD Quartet meeting charged with ending the conflict in Sudan. It also held meetings with the leaders of the African Union and IGAD countries to brief them about its position on the ongoing conflict in Khartoum and Darfur and its tragic consequences.

Civil groups, including a faction led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, have recently raised calls for the participation of civilians in comprehensive negotiations with the aim of halting the war, re-establishing the political process, and achieving democratic transition." Read more.

Report at Sudan Tribune - sudantribune.com
Published 11 June 2023 - here is a fully copy:

Arman urges unified front to end war and achieve democratic transition in Sudan

Yasir Arman speaks to reporters in a press conference held by the FFC on November 16, 2022 (ST photo)


June 11, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – A prominent leader of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), Yasir Arman, called for building a unified civil front in the country to end the war and advance the tasks of democratic transition in Sudan.


The call comes after the leaders of the revolutionary forces left the country on a regional and international tour to advocate for an end to the fighting and to explain the positions of the coalition on the issues of transition in Sudan.


On Monday, the FFC delegation participated in the closing session of the IGAD Quartet meeting charged with ending the conflict in Sudan. It also held meetings with the leaders of the African Union and IGAD countries to brief them about its position on the ongoing conflict in Khartoum and Darfur and its tragic consequences.


In a statement to Sudan Tribune from the Ethiopian capital, Arman said that their meetings with the IGAD quartet, the African Union, and international partners highlighted the importance of political and civil forces in shaping the future of Sudan. He added that this is the first time that civil and political leaders participate in such meetings.


Arman stressed that the civil forces need to form a broad civil front after the end of the war and the return of the military to the barracks.


“The building of the civil front will not be undertaken by an individual or a single group, but by the forces of change, revolution, and democratic forces together, in full transparency and in broad daylight, inside and outside Sudan, to build a civil front that leads to a real transformation in Sudan,” he said.


Recently, calls have been made by civil groups, including a group led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, for the involvement of civilians in comprehensive negotiations aimed at stopping the war, resuming the political process, and democratic transition. Arman warned against the continuation of the ongoing conflict in the country between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, as it would lead to the destruction of Khartoum and plunge the country into a comprehensive civil war on ethnic and regional lines.


Civil groups, including a faction led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, have recently raised calls for the participation of civilians in comprehensive negotiations with the aim of halting the war, re-establishing the political process, and achieving democratic transition. Arman cautioned against the perpetuation of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, emphasizing the potential consequences of such a continuation, including the devastation of Khartoum and the escalation of a widespread civil war along ethnic and regional divisions.


He highlighted that the ongoing clashes within the nation have the potential to utterly devastate Khartoum and erase the historical significance embodied by its monuments over the past two centuries.


“Initially, RSF elements perpetrated numerous violations and unlawfully seized civilian homes and properties. Presently, in the absence of substantial ground forces, the army is moving towards depopulating the capital by subjecting it to airstrikes and artillery bombardments. Preventing the total annihilation of Khartoum is imperative. Also, it is essential that the voices of Sudanese people and the international community be raised to protect civilians in Khartoum and bring an end to the war.”


Following the outbreak of the fighting in Khartoum on April 15, the paramilitary forces seized civilian homes and turned them into barracks for their fighters. In addition, they occupied essential facilities and looted banks, resulting in disruptions to various aspects of life in the capital.


Recently, the RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” admitted that his forces committed violations and promised to hold those involved accountable, but civilians are still suffering from looting and occupation of homes.


In addition, the military conducted aerial assaults on RSF positions situated in residential neighbourhoods, resulting in the loss of over a thousand lives and the displacement of more than one and a half million individuals to other regions or abroad.


Arman pointed out that the ongoing fighting in Darfur has become a threat to the peaceful coexistence between the various tribal components in the region and will lead to the eruption of ethnic and tribal conflict.


“Supporting civil society in Darfur, the Native Administration, women, youth, the displaced and refugees as a genuine partner to stop the war is important and necessary,” he further said.


Over 250,000 civilians from the Darfur region have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of attacks by the RSF-backed Arab militias. Numerous reports have drawn parallels between these events and the ethnic cleansing and genocide that have occurred in some African countries.


The leader of the FFC called for the active participation of civil society in the distribution of aid, including medical personnel, legal experts, women, and youth. Additionally, they emphasized the need for the establishment of civil administrations across urban and rural areas of Sudan to ensure the fair distribution of assistance to those who are in need.


According to news reports, international aid intended for the war-affected population and civilians in need is not reaching its intended recipients. Instead, it is being stockpiled in warehouses, and there are allegations of involvement by organizations associated with the former regime. (ST)


View original: https://sudantribune.com/article275055/


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Wednesday, June 14, 2023

UNSC: Briefing on Cooperation between UN and LAS

"The meeting, which is one of the signature events of the June Council Presidency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be chaired by Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

It appears that Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group at the UN) will participate under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure." Read more.

Report at What's In Blue - securitycouncilreport.org
Dated Wednesday 7 June 2023 - full copy:

Briefing on Cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States


Tomorrow morning (8 June) the Security Council will convene for a briefing on cooperation between the UN and the League of Arab States (LAS)


The meeting, which is one of the signature events of the June Council Presidency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be chaired by Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 


The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo; LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Dr. Omnia El Omrani, who was the Youth Envoy for the President of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), held in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022. 


It appears that Egypt (on behalf of the Arab Group at the UN) will participate under rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure.


Strengthening partnerships and cooperation with regional and sub-regional organisations—as envisioned in Chapter VIII of the UN Charter—has become an increasingly prominent theme for the Security Council. 


The Council has held annual consultative meetings with the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) since 2007 and has received regular briefings from the EU since 2010. 


It has also held debates and briefings on cooperation with several other bodies, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).


In the past decade, LAS representatives have addressed the Council on several occasions, not least due to the proliferation of conflicts in the Arab world. 


In recent years, Arab Council members have featured meetings on the UN-LAS relationship as signature events of their presidencies, including Kuwait in June 2019, Tunisia in January 2021, and the UAE in March 2022. Presidential statements focusing on the relationship between the two organisations were the outcome of these three meetings.


The UAE has circulated a concept note in preparation for tomorrow’s meeting, indicating that the briefing is an opportunity to explore expanding joint efforts to address the interrelated peace, security, and humanitarian challenges facing the Arab region. It poses several questions to help guide the discussion, including:

  • How can the Security Council and the LAS enhance their collaboration to promote tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and human fraternity, while aligning their approaches across the peace continuum, from conflict prevention to post-conflict peacebuilding?
  • What challenges do donor coordination efforts face in the context of emergency humanitarian crises, and how can the UN and the LAS work together to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of aid delivery in such situations?
  • How can the contributions of women and young people in peacebuilding be better acknowledged and supported by the Security Council and the LAS? What actions can be taken to improve the meaningful involvement of women and youth in peace and security initiatives in the Arab region?

At tomorrow’s meeting, Council members are expected to underscore the contributions of regional organisations to international peace and security. They may reflect on how the UN and the LAS can work together more effectively across the “peace continuum”, ranging from conflict prevention to post-conflict peacebuilding. Building on themes discussed in the concept note, members may also speak about cooperation between the UN and the LAS in promoting the rights of women and youth in the region. 


In this regard, some may emphasise the importance of implementing the 2022 “Arab Declaration to Combat All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls”, including through partnership with UN Women. They might also offer their views on the “Arab Strategy on Youth, Peace and Security”, which is expected to be launched later this year and has been developed with assistance from the UN Liaison Office to the LAS, which was established in 2019 in Cairo. Some members may talk about efforts to combat terrorism in the Arab world, including the Arab regional counter-terrorism strategy adopted in March 2022.


There could also be discussion of the adverse effects of climate change in the region and how to address them. It appears that this issue may be a focus of El Omrani’s briefing. The Council has also recognised the negative impact of climate change and other environmental factors in resolutions on one peace operation in the Middle East, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). In resolution 2682 of 30 May, which most recently renewed UNAMI’s mandate for one year, the Council called on the mission to advise, support, and assist the Iraqi government in facilitating regional dialogue and cooperation on several issues, including the “adverse impacts of climate change in particular those contributing to desertification and drought, resilience building, infrastructure, public health, and refugees”.


There is also likely to be discussion at tomorrow’s meeting of how the UN and the LAS can more effectively address security and humanitarian challenges in several country situations on the Security Council’s agenda. During the 32nd summit of the LAS in Jeddah on 19 May, the participants referred to several of these situations when they issued the “Jeddah Declaration”, which:

  • stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestinian issue;
  • expressed deep concern at the ramifications of the crisis in Sudan for the security, safety, and stability of LAS countries and people;
  • welcomed the decision of the Arab League Council to resume the participation of Syria in LAS meetings; and
  • advocated for the ongoing UN and regional efforts to come up with a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Yemen.

Council members have traditionally held contrasting views about how to approach many of the peace and security challenges in the Arab world. This is illustrated by the frequent vetoes cast over the years by the US and Russia on resolutions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Syria, respectively. In recent months, while some Council members—such as Russia and the UAE—have supported efforts to normalise relations with Syria, others, including the UK and the US, have remained sceptical.


Original: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2023/06/briefing-on-cooperation-between-the-un-and-the-league-of-arab-states.php


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Sunday, May 28, 2023

Sudan crisis: Hamdto al-Turabi Muhammad Hamadtou killed by terrorists in Nyala, South Darfur

GOUJA AHMED @qoga12 #NyalaWar 23 May Update: The killing of the young man (Hamdto al-Turabi Muhammad Hamadtou) in the Al-Jumhuriya neighborhood, Nyala, today, Tuesday, by armed militias, after they attacked and looted the Al-Jumhuriya neighborhood. Condolences. God bless. Rest in Peace + + +

Sunday, April 23, 2023

New fighting and looting in North Darfur: 11 killed, 1 police; 57 injured. SAF demotes RSF to a rebel group.

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: In the past few days Sudan's Army chief Gen. Burhan demoted Hemeti's RSF to a rebel group. Some males in the RSF are very young. They can become lost, neglected, drugged and frightened. 

Many rebels have to steal food, water, meds, drugs, cashphones, clothes, petrol, vehicles and attack aid convoys for supplies. Being a rebel is a way to become gainfully employed, part of a gang with camaraderie and a purpose.

Most of them become street wise, creative and resourceful, clever and able to think fast on their feet. I am not up to date with the law on recruitment of child soldiers but I hope it is now unlawful and classed as human trafficking. 

Report from Radio Dabanga in Netherlands - www.dabangasudan.org

By Radio Dabanga

Published Friday 21 April 2023

New reports about fighting and looting in Darfur

PHOTO: RSF soldiers deployed in a neighbourhood of Khartoum (Photo supplied)


EL FASHER / NYALA / ED DAEIN – Eleven people were killed in battles between Sudanese army soldiers and paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, on Wednesday [19 Apr].


Among the 11 people killed was one policeman, the North Darfur Radio Dabanga correspondent reported from El Fasher. 57 others were injured.


“The Southern Hospital is overcrowded,” she said. “Luckily, youth initiatives have led to the opening of five health centres that provide free diagnosis and treatment.”


Yesterday morning, the North Darfur capital witnessed relative calm with sporadic clashes, he said. “But the plundering continues.”


The Specialised Children’s Hospital was looted, and two ambulances were stolen on Wednesday, she said. Many houses have been plundered as well.


Youngsters are barricading the streets in the neighbourhoods to prevent more plundering.


“At the markets She further noted a significant decrease in the prices of clothes, shoes and other commodities, as thieves offered stolen goods for sale as well.”


‘Cautious calm’


Nyala, capital of South Darfur, witnessed a cautious calm on Thursday after clashes earlier this week that left at least 31 people dead. People left their homes to buy food and other needs from the shops. Many markets are still closed.


“However, intermittent exchanges of fire with heavy weapons continued in the northern part of the city on Thursday,” a correspondent in Nyala said.


He also reported widespread plundering. “People in various neighbourhoods resorted to barricading the streets to prevent looting.”


A listener told Radio Dabanga from Nyala that the plundering is done by armed men riding on motorcycles and in rickshaws. “Youths have formed groups that are patrolling the neighbourhoods.”


He said that the army forces are stationed at the base of the 16th Infantry Division, not far from the airport. The RSF soldiers are deployed in the El Matar, El Riyadh and El Malja neighbourhoods close to the army command.


Ed Daein, capital of East Darfur, has hardly been affected by the ongoing battles, residents told Radio Dabanga.


Activist Emameldin Maw said that the situation is calm except for two incidents on Sunday, the second day of the war, which led to the death of four army soldiers. He attributed the calm to the ability of native administration leaders to control the forces “by virtue of the social composition of the two parties”.


Continue Reading

Fighting continues in Sudan capital, UN warns for collapse of health system

Sudan: RSF attack police stations in El Obeid, 20 policemen killed

View original: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/new-reports-about-fighting-and-looting-in-darfur

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Video report: "WE ARE FED UP!" SUDANESE YOUTH CRY OUT FOR CHANGE

Thanks to a Sudan Watch reader in Khartoum, Sudan for sending in the following piece on youth resistance in Sudan.

Click here to visit VJ Movement and see video report by Mia Bittar, Khartoum entitled "WE ARE FED UP!" SUDANESE YOUTH CRY OUT FOR CHANGE.