This week, Sudan took a major step towards stability and co-existence. With the help of the UAE, Khartoum has signed peace deals with all but one of the many armed rebel factions battling the government, signalling the possibility of a new era.
After 10 months of arduous negotiations in South Sudan and Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok signed a peace agreement with a host of rebel factions last Monday. The groups that agreed to the deal include rebels from Darfur, a conflict-ridden region of western Sudan where former dictator Omar Al Bashir stands accused of genocide.
Rebels present in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile, two regions along the border with South Sudan, also signed the deal. These groups were joined on Friday by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a major rebel faction operating in Darfur, which signed a separate agreement. All but one key group, a wing of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), also based in Darfur, have agreed to end hostilities and move towards peace.
Sudanese Ambassador to the UAE Mohammed Amin Abdullah Al Karib said that "the UAE has played a significant role in achieving the peace accord” in reference to last Monday's agreement. The Emirates helped bring rebel factions to the negotiation table, in co-ordination with the Sovereignty Council, facilitating peace in Sudan.
The agreements offer new opportunities to peripheral regions of Sudan, which have historically been neglected by Khartoum. For instance, the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions will have more autonomy, and Darfur, which was divided into several regions, will be reunified and gain greater access to the revenues it generates. A major concession that was agreed upon on Sunday is the separation of religion and state in Sudan, a long-time SPLM-N demand.
The peace deals offer renewed hope in a nation that has had more than its fair share of suffering, and highlight Sudan's tremendous accomplishments in the past two years. In December 2018, Sudanese took to the streets after the price of bread tripled overnight, calling for the fall of their corrupt and inept regime. Al Bashir fell and was replaced by a Transitional Military Council, which was in turn dismantled when civil society and the military agreed to a power-sharing deal in August 2019. The Sovereignty Council will remain in power until elections are held in 2022. The UAE was among the strongest advocates for the transition. Abu Dhabi and Riyadh offered $3 billion in financial assistance to the Sudanese government after the fall of Al Bashir.
Khartoum is now working towards building a more stable and peaceful future for all Sudanese, despite being hit by a financial crisis, which has been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Sudan has come a long way since the days of Al Bashir's rule. It has outlawed female genital mutilation, granted Sudanese more freedoms and exchanged ambassadors with Washington for the first time in 20 years. Ending internal conflicts was a priority for Mr Hamdok. Khartoum has demonstrated it is serious about re-establishing peace, and the government has made great concessions to win the trust of the rebels.
The peace deals offer renewed hope in a nation that has had more than its fair share of suffering, and highlight Sudan's tremendous accomplishments in the past two years
The SLM must come to the negotiating table so that these efforts are not wasted, and a total cessation of hostilities can be achieved.
The success of Sudan's peace agreements will also depend on whether the parties involved deliver on their promises, initiate a reconciliation process and ensure that these deals are reflected on the ground. For instance, more than two million people have been internally displaced due to conflict in Darfur. Their plight will not end overnight. Authorities must work with rebel groups so that displaced Sudanese can return home safely and rebuild their lives.
Sudan has proven to the world once more that even in these challenging times, there is always a way towards peace, if there is the will for it.
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
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- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
