Latest news with #US-brokered
Euronews
a day ago
- Politics
- Euronews
DR Congo and Rwanda set to sign US-brokered peace deal
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to sign a US-brokered peace deal in Washington next week, which aims to end the fighting in eastern DRC. A provisional agreement, announced by the two countries and the US State Department, covers issues including disarmament, the integration of non-state armed groups and the return of refugees and internally displaced people in eastern DRC. The deal is expected to be signed on 27 June. Eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict for decades, with armed groups competing for access to natural resources, including tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium. Congo has accused its neighbour Rwanda of backing one of the largest groups in the region, the M23 rebels. UN experts say the rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from Rwanda, an accusation that Kigali has denied. The conflict escalated in January, when the M23 rebels advanced and seized the strategic DRC city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The draft agreement includes "provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups". It also includes a commitment to respecting territorial integrity and the conditional integration of non-state armed groups. The Trump administration has spoken of unlocking Western investment in eastern DRC, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously described the possibility of peace as a "win-win for everyone involved". Congo and Rwanda are not formally at war and in the past had held peace talks that have largely stalled, including some hosted by Qatar. Angola stepped down in March from its role as a mediator after several attempts to resolve the fighting in eastern DRC. M23 is one of about 100 armed factions vying for control in the region. But unlike the others, it is mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis who failed to integrate into the DRC's army. The group says it is defending ethnic Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan origin from discrimination, although critics say their Rwanda-backed campaign is a pretext for economic and political influence over eastern DRC. Rwanda's longtime President Paul Kagame accuses Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi of overlooking the concerns of the ethnic Tutsis and ignoring previous peace agreements. Earlier this week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that the M23 rebels, DRC military and allied armed groups had all carried out human rights abuses, some of which could amount to war crimes. Israel's military campaign against Iran has raised questions about the future leadership of the Islamic Republic and who will succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if he is killed. After assassinating several top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Khamenei could be next. Khamenei has rejected US calls for surrender in the face of Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by Washington would cause "irreparable damage". US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the US knew where Khamenei was "hiding" but that "we are not going to take him out ... at least not for now". As tensions continue to rise almost a week after Israel launched its surprise attack on its major rival Iran, reports have emerged of the growing influence of Khamenei's son Mojtaba — and the possibility of him succeeding his father if Israel wipe him out. Mojtaba is a mid-ranking cleric seen as an influential figure within Iran's decision-making circles, despite his lack of public appearances, insiders have previously told Reuters. Those sources said he has established solid ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and other important religious and political players in Tehran. Although Khamenei has never endorsed a successor, Iran analysts say Mojtaba has long been considered as one of the main candidates to be the country's next supreme leader. The other was the late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last May. Despite talk of his extensive influence, Iran's Assembly of Experts — the panel that will be tasked with appointing the country's next supreme leader — excluded Mojtaba from a list of potential candidates about six months ago, according to reporting by Reuters. However, although his popularity is said to have faded, sources said there had been behind-the-scenes lobbying by influential clerics to put his name back into the mix. US and Israeli officials have previously raised concerns that the lack of consensus over who should be the country's next supreme leader could complicate the succession phase, and lead to chaos within the regime, the Wall Street Journal reported last year. Iran watchers have also said that Khamenei opposes hereditary rule in a nation where the US-backed monarchy was overthrown in 1979. Nevertheless, the overlapping of religious and military institutions in Iran, as well as the lack of transparency behind the process to appoint the next supreme leader, means that Mojtaba cannot be ruled out.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Donald Trump says he is ‘honoured' to meet Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir: ‘I wanted to thank him for…'
In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to the White House on Wednesday. The meeting is significant as it comes amid the growing tensions between India and Pakistan. Praising Munir for preventing the escalation of the conflict between India and Pakistan, Trump said, "Reason I had him here was I wanted to thank him for not going into the war and ending it..." 'Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago and we are working a trade deal with India and also with Pakistan... I am so happy. Two very smart people decided not to keep going with the war. Those are two big nuclear powers. I was honoured to meet him today.' India is already is in disagreement with the United States over the president's claim that he stopped the recent war between the two South Indian nations and this meeting could further strain the relationship. Last month, Trump claimed that India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following US-brokered talks, saying he had urged both nations to prioritise trade over conflict. However, during a call with Trump on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified that the ceasefire resulted from direct talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, not US mediation, according to a statement by India's top diplomat, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The Trump-Munir meeting comes after reports speculated on the possibility of Pakistan aiding Iran during its ongoing conflict with Israel. 'They know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything,' Trump said after meeting Munir at the White House. 'They see what's going on. And he agreed with me,' Trump said, without explaining what he meant. A Bloomberg report said, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on said Monday that Iran is open to resuming negotiations if Israel halts its attacks, citing direct communication with his Iranian counterpart. Pakistan had signaled it may seek a role as a mediator in the Middle East conflict. 'Our intention was always to see successful negotiations between the United States and Iran,' Dar said in parliament, as per the Bloomberg report. Meanwhile, Asim Munir, in a public address in Washington, DC, had declared Pakistan's "clear and strong" support for Iran in its war with Israel while also backing US efforts to de-escalate the situation. The last Pakistani military leader to meet a sitting US President was General Pervez Musharraf in 2001, who did so as the nation's head of state during his tenure as a military dictator. (With inputs from ANI, Reuters and Bloomberg)
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Dorcha Lee: Benjamin Netanyahu still stalling on US-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza
Without a ceasefire in Gaza, the killings continue. A new feature in the carnage is the large number of men being gunned down while converging on humanitarian aid sites. Poorly-trained Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservists feel threatened and open fire, often in panic. It is not necessarily indiscriminate, but crowd control should follow the minimum force rule. Last weekend, on one day alone, 51 died at, or approaching, aid centres. In the meantime, the main IDF units are halfway through their two-month operation to occupy 75% of Gaza. Yesterday, the IDF's 162nd division entered the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. Only a ceasefire will stop this operation. For the third time, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frustrated a US-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza. The first US-brokered agreement, in conjunction with Egypt and Qatar, was presented by the Biden administration in May of last year. It collapsed in August when Netanyahu added five pre-conditions. The second proposed agreement was worked on by officials of both the Biden and Trump administrations. It was more successful. It came into effect on January 18, but ended when Israel refused to move to phase two, on March 1, as agreed. The third US-brokered agreement, presented by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, was pre-approved by Netanyahu four weeks ago. Hamas proposed changes, all of which could be considered as negotiable. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, right, steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, prior to negotiations with US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Picture: Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP The central difference between the Israeli and Hamas positions, in all three agreements, revolves around the duration of the ceasefire. Hamas wants Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire. Israel wants a time limit, leaving open the door to resuming hostilities should Hamas renege on the deal. Only with a cast-iron commitment to a permanent ceasefire can Hamas feel secure that the Israelis won't wipe it out. Agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in advance heavily compromises the Israeli objective of destroying Hamas. The 13-point Witkoff proposal is entitled Framework for negotiating an Agreement to a Permanent Ceasefire. It proposes a 60-day ceasefire, with Israel's adherence guaranteed by US president Donald Trump. Hamas's latest proposal is that the ceasefire would last seven years. This is a non-runner. However, it is a concession, in principle, from their previous position on a permanent ceasefire. The second point of the framework was that 10 live Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages would be released in two batches, half on day one of the ceasefire and the other half on day seven. The Hamas-proposed change is that the release of the hostages would be phased over the two-month period. The third point of the framework dealt with humanitarian assistance, which would begin immediately and would be distributed through agreed channels such as the UN and the Red Crescent. The fourth and fifth points cover IDF military activities and redeployment. The Hamas-proposed changes included these three framework points, plus US guarantees. It appears that Trump expected immediate agreement to the framework and was impatiently waiting to announce the agreement in Washington. Hamas's proposed changes were in the context that the framework was still negotiable. Two days later, Witkoff belatedly confirmed that he had intended the framework to be just the starting point of the next round of discussion. In the remaining eight points, there are safeguards built in to facilitate movement towards a permanent ceasefire. These safeguards are sufficiently nuanced to facilitate discussion. Since then, a wall of silence encircled the talks in Doha. Then, the week before last, the leak came — this time from Washington — when sources close to the US administration revealed Trump's frustration with Netanyahu. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP Netanyahu now insisted that Israel would not agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, thus back tracking on his prior acceptance of proposal's text. However, it has long been clear that the IDF military strategy of mainly using air power to take out Hamas targets has failed. Standard military doctrine — fighting in built up areas — would require a sustained ground offensive to engage with the enemy including, in this case, close quarter combat in the tunnels. Ground once captured must to be held, or at least denied to the enemy. The IDF offensive in Gaza is moving forward slowly. This time, the tunnels are being destroyed systematically. Hamas is striking back with improvised explosives devices (IEDs) and booby traps. The IDF lost six soldiers killed in one booby-trapped building that collapsed, and several vehicles have been hit by IEDs. The source of the explosives is apparently the numerous unexploded shells scattered around the bombed-out building sites. From the very beginning, the Israeli political leadership did not clarify which objective was the priority objective: The destruction of Hamas or the freeing of the hostages. Only last month did the government confirm that the priority was the destruction of Hamas. This means, at face value, that the IDF can now proceed to destroy Hamas without undue consideration for the lives of the remaining hostages. However, this may have been a ploy to persuade Hamas that holding hostages no longer offers the same protection, as before, to their fighters in the tunnels. But time is no longer on Netanyahu's side. Time is no longer on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyah's side. Picture: Abir Sultan/AP There are two indicators that morale is slipping in the IDF. First, the IDF chief of staff, Lieutenant general Eyal Zamir, admitted that the number of IDF casualties is much greater than previously stated. In particular, the number of wounded IDF personnel since the ground operation began on October 27, 2023, is reportedly 12,600 and not 5,500 as previously stated. Each month, 1,000 serving soldiers are currently being referred to the Israeli ministry of defence's rehabilitation department. Secondly, retired Israeli air force personnel have gathered 15,000 signatures from veterans calling for an end to the war. As most of the more than 54,000 Gazans confirmed killed to date died in airstrikes, there must be a lot of IDF air crews psychologically affected by having to kill so many innocent and unarmed men, women, and children. US and Israel want to move the remaining (estimated) 2.14m Gazans out of the area, so that the US can build a tourist resort. The latest proposed destinations for the Gazan population includes Libya, where the US is reportedly planning to resettle 1m Gazans. Libya has denied the report. Egypt has produced a more realistic plan which would allow the resident population to be temporarily housed in Gaza, while reconstruction takes place. It has backing from Arab and some European countries, but has not yet been accepted by Israel and the US. In the past, temporary relocations of displaced Palestinians have proved to be permanent. Promises that, if they leave Gaza, they will be allowed to return after the reconstruction, will not be believed. They heard it all before in 1948, in 1956, in 1967, and in 1973. Gazans well know that if they leave, they may never return. The Witkoff proposal still offers the best chance, so far, of achieving a long-lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Dorcha Lee is a retired army colonel and defence analyst Read More Read the Gaza poem by a Cork writer that featured on the Irish Examiner's front page
Canada Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Canadian state media explains absence of G7 Ukraine statement
Washington reportedly rejected a proposed text over concerns it could jeopardize the Ukraine peace process G7 leaders did not issue a joint statement on the Ukraine conflict following the group's recent summit in Canada, because the US refused to sign off unless it was "watered down," Canadian state broadcaster CBC and other media outlets have reported. The summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, ran from Sunday to Tuesday. US President Donald Trump left the gathering early, and did not meet with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, who also attended. On Tuesday, CBC cited an anonymous official from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's office admitting that plans for a group statement on Ukraine were dropped. The Americans reportedly opposed wording referencing Russia, due to concerns that it could jeopardize US-brokered diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The Canadian PM's office later rejected the reports, with its spokesperson Emily Williams insisting that "no proposed joint statement regarding Ukraine was distributed. Canada's intention was always for the important language to be a part of the G7 Chairs' Summary Statement, and it was." Carney's Summary statement said that the "G7 leaders expressed support for President Trump's efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine" and backed Kiev's call for "an unconditional ceasefire." Russia has repeatedly rejected Ukraine's sudden demand, calling it a ploy to allow Ukrainian forces regroup and resupply. According to Carney, the G7 is "resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions." Commenting on the summit on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the event was "rather unremarkable and meaningless." (
First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Rwanda Postpones US-brokered Peace Deal With DR Congo
Rwanda Postpones US-brokered Peace Deal With DR Congo | Firstpost Africa Rwanda Postpones US-brokered Peace Deal With DR Congo | Firstpost Africa A U.S.-brokered peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been delayed, despite earlier commitments to end ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The agreement, aimed at halting support for armed groups and restoring regional stability, was expected to be signed in mid-June. However, Rwanda now says the deal must be 'adapted to the reality of negotiations.' The delay comes as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have seized territory. Parallel peace talks in Doha with the DRC government and M23 remain inconclusive. Meanwhile, South Africa has begun withdrawing its troops from the conflict zone. See More
