Sudan: A European-led tripartite meeting in Addis discusses arms embargo on Sudan & Article Seven, ignoring the position of both sides of the conflict

THIS report published in Arabic was kindly sent in to Sudan Watch by a Sudanese reader living and working in the UK over the past twenty years. Here is a copy in full, translated from Arabic by Google translate.

From sudanakhbar.com
By Radio Dabanga Arabic
Dated Friday, 9 February 2024

A European-led tripartite meeting in Addis Ababa discusses the arms embargo on Sudan, the imposition of Article Seven, and ignoring the position of both sides of the conflict - Sudan News

The Darfur Bar Association and the African Centre for Peace and Justice meet with a joint delegation with representatives of the European Union Mission Badis Ayaya

At the request of the Darfur Bar Association and the African Centre for Peace and Justice, a joint delegation met with representatives of the European Union Delegation in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, this morning, February 8, 2024, and the meeting was devoted to consultation on the situation in Sudan and with a focus on stopping the war and the humanitarian situation.

The Army and RSF are not qualified to discuss post-war issues

Mr. Saleh Mahmoud, Chairman of the Darfur Bar Association, described the humanitarian situation as aggravated and worrying, not only in Darfur, but in the whole of Sudan, given the number of people affected, which the most modest statistics indicate exceeds 10 million people.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Mr. Saleh Mahmoud pointed out that the meeting also touched on gross violations of human rights and international law and the continued commission of heinous crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The meeting also touched on the future of the political process after the cessation of the war, as the Darfur Bar Association and the African Center for Peace and Justice confirmed that there is currently no government in Sudan representing all Sudanese to discuss the post-war situation, stressing that the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (Janjaweed Foundation) are not qualified to discuss the situation of Sudan and negotiate that indicates the return of the situation to what it was before the war.

Sudan arms embargo

On ways to stop the war, Mr. Saleh Mahmoud stressed that the discussion touched on the activation of all measures under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and various international treaties. He pointed to the importance of taking measures related to banning the import of weapons flowing into Sudan as a priority, not dealing with the parties to the war and not for the purpose of negotiations to return them to the position of power again, given that the task of determining how and who will govern Sudan is a task for the Sudanese people.

Mr. Saleh Mahmoud stated that they explained to the representatives of the European Union Mission the possibility of delivering humanitarian aid in a shorter way through Chadian territory for the people of the Darfur region in order to avoid the difficulties facing its flow through the port of Port Sudan as well as to the rest of the affected areas in Sudan. We asked them to think together about ways to deliver aid in the presence of the old state institution that is tainted by corruption that could hinder the delivery of this aid or sell it in the markets to those affected.

Exceeding the consent of the parties to the war

Mr. Saleh Mahmoud warned that the passage of aid in areas controlled by the army or the Rapid Support Forces threatens the possibility of reaching those who deserve it. Mr. Saleh Mahmoud stressed that they called for activating international humanitarian law, especially the articles that allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected without obtaining the consent of the force controlling the ground, whether it is rapid support or armed forces, and the international community and regional institutions in delivering aid should not be subject to the will of the warring parties that do not represent the Sudanese people.

Calling for a greater role for the African Peace and Security Council

Regarding the speech addressed by the African Center for Justice and Peace to the African Peace and Security Council, Musaed Mohamed Ali, director of the center, confirmed in an interview with Radio Dabanga that the message is mainly aimed at stopping the war as a top priority. The letter called on the Peace and Security Council and the African Union to play its role and exert greater efforts to stop the war and stop hostilities in Sudan as soon as possible. In the short term, the letter called on the council to work towards a swift cessation of hostilities to allow the passage of humanitarian aid to those affected who have been displaced inside Souda.

View original: https://www.sudanakhbar.com/1483595

END

Israel says ground operations expanding as it intensifies Gaza bombing. Gaza can't be contacted

Communications go down in Gaza, leaving residents uncontactable. Hamas says clashes are taking place in northern areas. (Photo/caption from BBC)

Summary

• Israel says its ground forces are "expanding operations" targeting Hamas in Gaza
• Huge explosions were seen in the territory, with Israeli warplanes carrying out heavy strikes
• Hamas says clashes have taken place in northern Gaza - reports say some Israeli troops and tanks have entered
• Earlier, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told Gaza City residents to move south for their safety
• Communication networks went down around the same time, meaning residents in Gaza can't be contacted
• The UN General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce, with 120 states voting for a resolution put forward by Jordan
• Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw 229 people kidnapped as hostages
• The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 7,000 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began

Source: BBC News Live Reporting Sat, 28 Oct 2023 00:50 BST. Read latest:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67246761

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EU opposes total siege of Gaza: Israel cutting water, food, electricity to civilians violates international law

EU foreign ministers are urging both sides to respect humanitarian law. “That means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza,” said EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. Read more.

Report from BBC News Live Reporting

By SOFIA BETTIZA

Reporting from Brussels Tue 10 Oct 2023, 19:54 BST - here is a copy in full:

EU foreign policy chief suggests Israel is violating international law

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has said the bloc opposes a total siege of Gaza.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but that needs to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law. And some decisions are contrary to international law.”

Borrell spoke after an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“Some actions – like cutting electricity and food for civilians – are against international law,” he said.

EU foreign ministers are urging both sides to respect humanitarian law. “That means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza,” said Borrell.

He stressed that the EU considered Hamas a terrorist organisation, but that the Palestinian Authority was a different thing.

“Not all Palestinian people are terrorists. So a collective punishment would be unfair and unproductive. It would be against our interests, and against the interest of peace.”

To view the original click here.

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UN deeply concerned by 50+ attacks on aid workers and health care in Sudan in three months -WHO

Report from China View - Xinhuanet english.news.cn
Source: Xinhua. Editor: huaxia
Published on Saturday 22 July at 05:17 - here is a full copy:

UN humanitarians deeply concerned by ongoing attacks on health care in Sudan

UNITED NATIONS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Humanitarians on Friday expressed deep concern over more than 50 attacks on aid workers and health care in Sudan in three months.

"We are appalled by reports that a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) team was assaulted by armed men in Khartoum yesterday (Thursday)," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

According to OCHA, MSF reported that a 16-person team in Khartoum was aggressively assaulted by a group of armed men who physically beat and whipped them. The assailants detained one of the MSF drivers and, before his release, threatened to kill him. They also stole a vehicle.

MSF said the incident happened as the team was moving medical supplies from the organization's warehouse to the Turkish Hospital, one of only two hospitals still operating in all of southern Khartoum.

"We underscore that attacks on health care workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law," OCHA said. "They must stop now."

The World Health Organization has verified more than 50 attacks on health care since the conflict began in Sudan on April 15. 

View original: http://www.chinaview.cn/20230722/2f9a1cf70e2344feba9aa2b64c2a1c4f/c.html

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