CAIRO: The chief of the Arab League has called on warring parties in Sudan to reach a ceasefire agreement ahead of Ramadan.
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, in an appeal to the Sudanese people on Wednesday, warned of “the shedding of precious blood and enduring wounds from a year-long war.”
He said: “Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, beginning in a few days, Sudan continues to witness the shedding of precious blood and enduring wounds from a year-long war, jeopardizing the dreams and legitimate hopes of millions for a safe and stable life in their homeland.
“As Ramadan approaches, I urge my Sudanese brothers to exhaust all efforts in seeking peace, engaging in dialogue and prioritizing the welfare of the homeland.
“Let every sincere step be taken to silence the guns, heal wounds and restore hope for the future.”
He added: “This brutal conflict has displaced millions from their homes, ravaged the national capital, subjected families and villages to heinous crimes, instilled fear and terror among innocent hearts who have lost loved ones and property, and fueled speeches of hatred, revenge and vengeance within one nation.
“I remind all Sudanese of their renowned qualities of tolerance and purity of heart, celebrated among their neighbors.
“The valuable contributions of past generations in defending their nation and building its renaissance are indelibly etched in memory. In these critical moments for their country and institutions, it’s time to recall these qualities and efforts.”
The Arab League chief said: “As we approach the month of tolerance, where Muslims strive for goodness, forgiveness and selflessness, I urge my Sudanese brothers to preserve their blood in reverence for the sanctity of this month, their homeland and their honor.”
The Arab League “stands ready to support every endeavor that seeks to restore peace, stability and hope in Sudan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Aboul Gheit met officials from the African Union High-Level Committee on Sudan, led by Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The two sides held a detailed discussion on the Sudanese crisis.
Jamal Rushdi, Aboul Gheit’s spokesman, said Ibn Chambas outlined the committee’s work to end the war in Sudan.
Ibn Chambas and the committee officials called for closer cooperation with the Arab League on peace efforts.
The committee chief briefed Aboul Gheit on the outcomes of his meeting in Port Sudan with Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council.
The Arab League chief said a ceasefire agreement could “salvage the Sudanese state, which has suffered significant infrastructure damage, especially in the capital, Khartoum.”
Aboul Gheit highlighted the Arab League’s efforts to work with international partners, including the African Union, on ending the war.
Cooperation and coordination with the government of Sudan is crucial in ensuring the success of any peace deal, he added.
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Arab League chief calls for Sudan ceasefire ahead of Ramadan
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Arab League chief calls for Sudan ceasefire ahead of Ramadan
- Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit warned of “the shedding of precious blood and enduring wounds from a year-long war”
- “As Ramadan approaches, I urge my Sudanese brothers to exhaust all efforts in seeking peace, engaging in dialogue and prioritizing the welfare of the homeland”
Hundreds mourn in Syria’s Homs after deadly mosque bombing
HOMS: Hundreds of mourners gathered Saturday despite rain and cold outside of a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs where a bombing the day before killed eight people and wounded 18.
The crowd gathered next to the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Al-Dhahab neighborhood, where the population is predominantly from the Alawite minority, before driving in convoys to bury the victims.
Officials have said the preliminary investigations indicate explosive devices were planted inside the mosque but have not yet publicly identified a suspect.
A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, in which it indicated that the attack intended to target members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam whom hard-line Islamists consider to be apostates.
The same group had previously claimed a suicide attack in June in which a gunman opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, killing 25 people as worshippers prayed on a Sunday.
A neighbor of the mosque, who asked to be identified only by the honorific Abu Ahmad (“father of Ahmad“) out of security concerns, said he was at home when he heard the sound of a “very very strong explosion.”
He and other neighbors went to the mosque and saw terrified people running out of it, he said. They entered and began trying to help the wounded, amid blood and scattered body parts on the floor.
While the neighborhood is primarily Alawite, he said the mosque had always been open to members of all sects to pray.
“It’s the house of God,” he said. “The mosque’s door is open to everyone. No one ever asked questions. Whoever wants to enter can enter.”
Mourners were unable to enter the mosque to pray Saturday because the crime scene remained cordoned off, so they prayed outside.
Some then marched through the streets chanting “Ya Ali,” in reference to the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law whom Shiite Muslims consider to be his rightful successor.
The crowd gathered next to the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Al-Dhahab neighborhood, where the population is predominantly from the Alawite minority, before driving in convoys to bury the victims.
Officials have said the preliminary investigations indicate explosive devices were planted inside the mosque but have not yet publicly identified a suspect.
A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, in which it indicated that the attack intended to target members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam whom hard-line Islamists consider to be apostates.
The same group had previously claimed a suicide attack in June in which a gunman opened fire and then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, killing 25 people as worshippers prayed on a Sunday.
A neighbor of the mosque, who asked to be identified only by the honorific Abu Ahmad (“father of Ahmad“) out of security concerns, said he was at home when he heard the sound of a “very very strong explosion.”
He and other neighbors went to the mosque and saw terrified people running out of it, he said. They entered and began trying to help the wounded, amid blood and scattered body parts on the floor.
While the neighborhood is primarily Alawite, he said the mosque had always been open to members of all sects to pray.
“It’s the house of God,” he said. “The mosque’s door is open to everyone. No one ever asked questions. Whoever wants to enter can enter.”
Mourners were unable to enter the mosque to pray Saturday because the crime scene remained cordoned off, so they prayed outside.
Some then marched through the streets chanting “Ya Ali,” in reference to the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law whom Shiite Muslims consider to be his rightful successor.
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