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BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Sudan in danger of self-destructing as conflict and famine reign
Sudan's war is in strategic stalemate. Each side stakes its hopes on a new offensive, a new delivery of weapons, a new political alliance, but neither can gain a decisive losers are the Sudanese people. Every month there are more who are hungry, displaced, Sudan armed forces triumphantly announced the recapture of central Khartoum in broadcast pictures of its leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, walking through the ruins of the capital's Republican Palace, which had been controlled by the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), since the earliest days of the war in April army deployed weapons newly acquired from Egypt, Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries including Qatar and Iran. But its offensive quickly stalled. The RSF, headed by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti", responded with a devastating drone attack on Port Sudan, which is both the interim capital of the military government and also the main entry point for humanitarian were long-range sophisticated drones, which the army accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying - a charge the UAE rejects, along with well-documented reports that it has been backing the RSF during the 27-month conflict.A simple guide to Sudan's warFear, loss and hope in Sudan's ruined capital after army victoryBurhan and Hemedti - the two generals at the heart of the conflictThe RSF has also expanded operations to the south of struck a deal with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, the veteran rebel commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North, which controls the Nuba Mountains near the border with South forces combined may be able to make a push to the border with Ethiopia, hoping to open new supply the RSF has been besieging the capital of North Darfur, el-Fasher, which is defended by a coalition of Darfurian former rebels, known as the Joint Forces, allied with the of the fighters are ethnic Zaghawa, who have been in fierce conflict with the Arab groups that form the core of the RSF. Month after month of blockade, bombardment and ground attacks have created famine among the residents, with the people of the displaced camp of Zamzam RSF and its allied Arab militias have a terrifying record of massacre, rape and ethnic cleansing. Human rights organisations have accused it of genocide against the Massalit people of West communities in el-Fasher fear that if the Joint Forces are defeated, they will suffer savage reprisals at the hands of the pressure on el-Fasher is growing. Last week the RSF captured desert garrisons on the border with Libya held by the Joint military has accused forces loyal to Libyan strongman Gen Khalifa Haftar, who controls the east of the country and is also a reported beneficiary of Emirati support, of joining in the civilians, who six years ago managed the extraordinary feat of overthrowing the country's long-time leader Omar al-Bashir through non-violent protests, are in groupings are aligned with Burhan, with Hemedti, or trying to stake out a neutral position. They are all active on social media, polarised, acrimonious and neighbourhood committees that were the driving force of the civic revolution are clinging to life. Most have kept their political heads down, focusing instead on essential humanitarian activities. Known as "Emergency Response Rooms", aid workers recognise that they are the most efficient channel for life-saving many lost their funding when the administration of US President Donald Trump closed down USAID, and other donors have not stepped into the army and RSF both see any form of civic activism as a threat. They are cracking down, arresting, torturing and killing national aid workers and human rights is no credible peace UN's chief diplomat assigned to Sudan, former Algerian Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra, formulated a peace plan that was premised on the assumption that the army would achieve a military that would be left to negotiate would be the disarmament of the RSF and the reconstruction of the country. That is totally has a big diplomatic advantage over Hemedti because the UN has recognised the military side as the government of Sudan, even when it did not control the national attempt to launch a parallel administration for the vast territories controlled by the RSF has gained little credibility. Foreign ministers at a conference in London in April, hosted by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, failed to agree a path to peace. The conference chairs had to settle for a statement that covered familiar this occasion, as before, progress was blocked because Saudi Arabia and the UAE could not acknowledge that Sudan's war is an African problem that needs an Arab road to peace in Khartoum runs through Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Egypt, the big question is whether Burhan is able to distance himself from Sudan's Bashir, the Islamist movement was in power for 30 years, and established a formidable and well-funded organisation, that still Islamists mobilised combat brigades that were key to the army's recent victory in President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi supports Burhan and wants him to sideline the Islamists, but knows that he cannot push the Sudanese general too question takes on added salience with Israel's attack on Iran and the Islamists' fear that they are facing an irreversible other big question is whether the UAE will step back from supporting the RSF lost Khartoum, some hoped that Abu Dhabi might seek a compromise - but within weeks the RSF was deploying drones that appear to have come from the UAE is also facing strategic challenges, as it is an outlier in the Arab world in its alignment with wants to see Sudan divided. But the reality of the war points towards a de facto partition between bitterly opposed warring camps. Meanwhile, the world's largest and deepest humanitarian emergency worsens with no end in than half of Sudan's 45 million people are displaced. Nearly a million are in sides continue to restrict aid agencies' access to the starving. The UN's appeal for $4.2bn (£3bn) for essential aid was only 13.3% funded in late and among the Arab world's powerbrokers, Sudan is no-one's priority, an orphan in a region that is is a country where the multilateral organisations - the United Nations and the African Union - could still be can remind all of their commitments to human rights and human life, and that it is in no-one's interest to see Sudan's catastrophe continue to long-suffering Sudanese people surely deserve that quantum of de Waal is the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the US. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Iraq Business
10-06-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq to become "a Massive Success Story"
By Padraig O'Hannelly. Iraq is experiencing unprecedented stability and security, creating significant opportunities for international businesses, according to Abir Burhan, Company Director of Al-Burhan Group (ABG), speaking at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) Spring Conference in London. Burhan outlined how the operating environment has transformed dramatically over the past year, with the Iraqi government actively inviting international investment and reducing hostility towards foreign businesses. " We've been through the worst of it, and we finally see that Iraq is becoming really stable and secure, " he told delegates. ABG has positioned itself as a facilitator for international companies entering the Iraqi market, partnering with established firms including Menzies Aviation and Air BP to operate ground fuelling services at Iraqi airports. The company has achieved international operational standards with no reported incidents, demonstrating the viability of high-quality service delivery in the country. " We allow companies to operate in a safe environment, to actually do their job, rather than worrying about the hurdles of dealing with the Iraqi infrastructure, " Burhan explained. The group has made substantial investments in Iraq's infrastructure over the past two years, including: A 300-room hotel development near Baghdad airport Construction of 1,200 affordable housing units in Wasit province Establishment of an operations centre to support international business activities Burhan noted that ABG's security division has experienced reduced demand over the past year, which he views as a positive indicator of improving conditions. " We don't mind our security company not being busy, because we know that there are big advantages for businesses as well, " he said. The Operations Director expressed optimism about Iraq's economic prospects, predicting the country will become " a massive success story " within the next five to ten years. He emphasised the current government's commitment to attracting international investment and the noticeable improvement in security conditions. Burhan acknowledged the pivotal role of the Iraq Britain Business Council in facilitating international business opportunities in Iraq over the past decade, describing their work as instrumental in bringing projects to fruition despite various challenges. The comments reflect growing confidence in Iraq's business environment as the country continues to rebuild and modernise its economy following years of instability.
Mint
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Khartoum changes hands, marking a new phase in Sudan's civil war
Nearly two years after being forced to fall back to Port Sudan on the coast, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan are triumphantly back in charge of Khartoum, the capital. They still face resistance in areas south of the city and in the district of Omdurman on the west bank of the Nile. But the city's recapture marks a turning point in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12m and caused one of the world's worst famines for decades. The question now is whether the SAF halts its advance or pushes westward. That will depend partly on pressure from the general's allies. The SAF has advanced on the battlefield in recent months largely thanks to a broad and diverse coalition assembled since the early months of the war, when it lost swathes of the country, including most of Khartoum, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a descendant of the Janjaweed, an ethnically Arab militia that terrorised the vast western region of Darfur for two decades. The RSF is commanded by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, who is apparently determined to fight on. On the SAF's side are foreign backers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and neighbouring Egypt, which has reportedly provided air support. Looser associates include Russia, Turkey and Iran, which have sold the army weapons and drones. Some of those countries may now press General Burhan, who has doggedly refused peace talks, to negotiate with the RSF. To sweeten the deal, outsiders may offer to recognise an SAF-led government in Khartoum and help pay to rebuild the battered city. Yet competing interests among the army's domestic allies could scupper any such deal. The SAF has enlisted voluntary local defence units, composed of civilians enraged by the RSF's looting and terrorising of populations under its control, and militias from Darfur. It has also fought alongside jihadist brigades with links to the Islamist government of Omar al-Bashir that was ousted in 2019. Faced with the dilemma of whether to continue the fight westwards towards the RSF's base in Darfur, or to consolidate in Khartoum, this shaky alliance could well splinter. Prominent voices are urging it to push on. 'Darfur is part of Sudan,' says Amjed Farid, a former government official. 'The SAF should not surrender it to the RSF.' Many Darfuris, not least the ethnic African groups who have suffered atrocities including possible genocide at the hands of the RSF, probably feel the same. But such a push could easily end badly. The army has made the biggest recent gains in its traditional strongholds in central Sudan. A ground offensive in Darfur would entail battles on the RSF's home turf and stretched supply lines. As a commander during the first Darfur war, in the 2000s, General Burhan got bogged down in the region. Even with the support of local allies his forces could find themselves in a quagmire again. 'The Sudanese Armed Forces have never really won in Darfur,' says Kholood Khair of Confluence Advisory, a Sudanese think-tank. Still, for the moment there is little talk of a ceasefire or negotiations, at least in public. The SAF continues to bomb civilians: a strike on a market in Darfur on March 24th reportedly killed at least 54 people and injured dozens more. In Khartoum there are alarming reports of lawlessness. Gruesome videos have circulated in recent days appearing to show beheadings of suspected RSF collaborators by groups allied to the army. There are equally few signs that the RSF, despite its defeat in Khartoum and its recent insistence that it wished to begin dialogue, is ready to sue for peace. In February it announced the formation of a parallel government in the areas under its control. Its chief foreign supporter, the United Arab Emirates, does not appear to have stopped sending it weapons. Almost all of Sudan's immediate neighbours, except Egypt and Eritrea, now fall within the Emiratis' sphere of influence. This means the RSF should be able to continue resupplying itself. 'I'd be surprised if the RSF is going to take this one lying down,' says Alex Rondos, a former EU special representative to the Horn of Africa. In Khartoum and its surroundings the SAF's victory should at least make it easier for aid agencies to deliver food and other emergency supplies. That could stave off famine, temporarily reducing the misery for Sudanese in these areas. 'But does it actually bring the war closer to the end?' asks Payton Knopf, a former American diplomat. 'Probably not.'
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Hans India
SC takes serious note of rising suicide cases in Kota
Kota: Rajasthan Police filed an FIR in connection with the suicide of a Jammu and Kashmir student in Rajasthan's Kota. Recently, the Supreme Court made strong remarks over the increasing number of such incidents in the city. The victim, identified as Zeeshan Jahan (18), a NEET aspirant from Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, was found dead in her PG accommodation in Mahavir Nagar on May 25. According to police, this is only the second case in Kota where an FIR has been filed in connection with a student suicide. The Supreme Court had earlier taken serious note of the rising student suicide cases in Kota. On May 23, a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan questioned the Rajasthan government's inaction, stating, 'Fourteen students have committed suicide in Kota so far this year. What are you doing about it as a state? Why are students committing suicide in Kota? Have you not given it any thought?' Following this, police filed FIRs in two separate student suicide cases—one at Kunhari Police Station and another at Mahavir Nagar Police Station. Mahavir Nagar Police Station Officer Ramesh Kaviya confirmed that Zeeshan Jahan was found hanging in her room. She had reportedly spoken to a person named Burhan on the phone shortly before the incident. After the call, Burhan contacted a mutual acquaintance in Kota, urging her to check on Zeeshan. When she arrived, she found the room locked from the inside. Upon hearing her screams, nearby students gathered. A carpenter working nearby was called, and the door was cut open with a cutter. Zeeshan was found hanging. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. A postmortem examination was conducted in the presence of his relatives, who had arrived from Jammu and Kashmir. The police have registered a case under Sections 306 and 108 of the IPC, which pertain to abetment of suicide. The role of Burhan is under investigation. According to Zeeshan's uncle, Shakeel Ahmed Wani, she had been mentally distressed and was under medical treatment. She had previously attended a private coaching institute in Kota and had returned to the city just a month ago after Eid. Whether she had taken readmission this session is being investigated.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
NEET aspirant's suicide: KotaPolice file FIR as per SC order
1 2 Kota: City police Tuesday registered an FIR for abetment of suicide following the death of an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Jammu & Kashmir on Sunday. The action comes days after the Supreme Court rapped the state govt, especially the Kota police, for their failure to register FIRs in student suicide cases. Zeeshan Jahan, a resident of Anantnag, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her rented accommodation under Mahaveer Nagar police station Sunday evening. Circle Inspector Ramesh Kavia confirmed Tuesday that the FIR has been registered in the matter under Section 108 of BNS against some identified as well as unidentified persons. "According to police officials, Jahan was on a phone call with her relative Burhan when she took the extreme step. During the conversation, she hinted at her intentions, prompting Burhan to alert his acquaintance, Mamta, another student who lived in the same building," said CI Kavia. "Mamta rushed to Zeeshan's room, found the door locked from inside, so called for help," the police officer said. Nearby people then broke open the door with a grinder obtained from a carpenter working in an adjacent building and took Zeeshan to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead. "No suicide note was recovered from the scene," said CI Kavia. "We are examining all possible angles, including her relationship with Burhan, but conclusions will only be drawn after a thorough investigation," the police officer added. Family members, who reached Kota Tuesday morning, said that Jahan had been battling stress and depression, for which she was receiving medical treatment. Jahan, who had previously studied in Kota for the NEET-UG exam, had returned to the city last month. Unlike her previous stint, she had opted for self-study rather than enrolling in any coaching institute. The police have handed over the body to the family following post-mortem examination and investigations are ongoing. Zeeshan's suicide marks 15th such case by a student in Kota since January and the second this month. Earlier in May, another girl from Madhya Pradesh, also a NEET aspirant, died by suicide under Kunhadi police station a day before the NEET-UG exam on May 3.
