Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso are engaging in an international initiative to enhance Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean

The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad expressed their countries' support for the international initiative proposed by Morocco to facilitate the Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean.

A statement issued by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said, “The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad expressed, on Saturday in Marrakesh, their countries’ involvement in the international initiative, launched by King Mohammed VI to enhance the access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, which provides great opportunities.” for the economic transformation of the entire region.

They stressed “the strategic importance of this initiative, which falls within the framework of King Mohammed VI’s effective solidarity measures with sister African countries, and the Sahel region in particular, which provides great opportunities for the economic transformation of the entire region, as it will contribute to accelerating regional communication, trade flows and common prosperity.” In the Sahel region.

In this context, they welcomed the comprehensive and participatory approach to developing this initiative, stressing their common ambition to strengthen cooperation relations through multi-sectoral, structural and innovative partnerships that reflect the values ​​of South-South cooperation and common development.

The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad, participating in this coordination meeting, agreed to establish a national working group in each country in order to prepare and propose modes of implementation of this initiative.

The ministers also agreed to work, as soon as possible, to finalize the proposals that will be presented to King Mohammed VI and his brothers, the heads of state of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers expressed their gratitude to King Mohammed VI for the initiative and for the offer made by the Kingdom of Morocco to place road, port and railway infrastructure at the disposal of the Sahel countries, to enhance their participation in international trade.

Sudanese Health warns of a humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands in Gezira State

The Sudanese Ministry of Health warned that the Rapid Support Forces' transfer of military operations to Al-Jazira State, which is considered a center for medical supplies and services, portends a health disaster that could claim the lives of thousands.

The Sudanese Health Ministry said in a statement, “The Rapid Support Militia’s transfer of war operations to Al-Jazira State, which was a haven for the sick and those in need of treatment for more than 5 million citizens and is a center for specialized services and medical supplies for all citizens of Sudan in the center, south and west for more than 25 million citizens, heralds a health disaster in the country.” Especially after all United Nations agencies and international organizations withdrew their offices and members from the island state.”

The Sudanese Health Ministry added, "The number of people we will lose, including sick people, children, mothers, people with chronic diseases, and others, will be in the thousands, and will exceed the number of those we lost through murder and weapons."

The Sudanese Ministry of Health renewed its warning that the fighting in Al-Jazira State will cause epidemics to worsen and increase their spread to an extent that could claim hundreds of thousands of lives.

The Sudanese Health Ministry called for the Rapid Support Forces to leave all health institutions, not to attack or destroy them, to protect health personnel and ambulance personnel, and to facilitate their movement to transport patients for treatment.

The Rapid Support Forces recently penetrated into Al-Jazeera State, which hosts thousands of displaced people and is an active center for medical and relief services, at a time when press sources reported that the Sudanese army is preparing to enter the state and gradually retake it.

The Rapid Support Forces had issued a press statement earlier in which they confirmed their seizure of strategic military headquarters in Al-Jazira State without resistance from the Sudanese army.

On the other hand, the Sudanese Armed Forces said in a statement a few days ago that they would conduct an investigation into the reasons for the army’s withdrawal from the headquarters of the First Infantry Division in Gezira State.