Sudan's paramilitaries kill more than 30 in new attack on Darfur city: activists
Dozens of other people were wounded in the attack, said the group, which tracks the war.The RSF renewed its attack on Monday, shelling residential buildings and open markets in the city, the group said. There was no immediate comment from the RSF. El-Fasher, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, is under the control of the military, which has fought the RSF since Sudan descended into civil war more than two years ago, killing more than than 24,000 people, according to the United Nations, though activists say the number is likely far higher.
The RSF has been attempting to seize el-Fasher for a year to complete its control of the entire Darfur region. Since then, it has launched many attacks on the city and two major famine-hit camps for displaced people on its outskirts. The city is now estimated to be home to more than 1 million people, many of whom have been displaced by the ongoing war and previous bouts of violence in Darfur.
The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, mobilized two decades ago by then President Omar al-Bashir against populations that identify as Central or East African in Darfur. The Janjaweed were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities. The attacks on el-Fasher have intensified in recent months as the RSF suffered battlefield setbacks in Khartoum and other urban areas in the county's east and center.
Sunday's violence came less than a week after a two-day attack by the RSF and its allied militias on the city and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps killed more than 400 people, according to the United Nations. Last week's attack forced up to 400,000 people to flee the Zamzam camp, Sudan's largest, which has become inaccessible to aid workers, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.
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We will also continue our close cooperation in pursuit of regional and global peace and stability, as two peace-loving countries and active members of the international community. Q: Is there a regular political dialogue between South Korea and Kuwait? A: The two countries meet regularly through political consultations at the Assistant Foreign Ministers level. The fourth round was held in Seoul in May 2023, during which they discussed a wide range of topics, including high-level exchanges, cooperation in various sectors, regional developments, and joint coordination in international forums. The two sides discussed progress made in key areas such as trade, energy, construction, health, agriculture and defense. The fifth round of political consultations is expected to be held in the second half of this year. There is strong coordination between the two countries on the international stage, based on mutual trust. 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Over the past five decades, South Korean companies have implemented projects valued at around $50 billion. We look forward to closer and more cooperation in the future. Q: Are there any new trade agreements currently under negotiation between the two sides? A: South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded their negotiations on a free trade agreement in 2023. It is now in its final stages, awaiting official signing and completion of ratification procedures. The agreement, once implemented, will contribute significantly to enhancing economic exchanges between South Korea and the GCC countries, including Kuwait. The two countries are discussing the possibility of amending existing agreements -- such as the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement; as well as concluding new memoranda of understanding through the Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF). Q: What about cooperation in the digital economy? A: South Korea and Kuwait are interest in developing the digital economy. Discussions are underway to explore potential areas of cooperation in different sectors. One example is the smart city project in the new South Saad Al-Abdullah City. South Korea has been working with Kuwait since 2017 to integrate its expertise in city development and digital technologies into the planning, design and construction of the city. A delegation from the Financial Services Commission in South Korea visited Kuwait last year to discuss cooperation in the field of digital government. To further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the digital economy, the South Korean Embassy is currently studying the possibility of organizing a symposium on this topic before the end of this year. Q: What is the role of South Korean companies in implementing projects within the Kuwait Development Plan? A: South Korean companies have played a prominent role in implementing many major development projects and have contributed to several projects within Kuwait's Vision 2035, such as the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Causeway, Al-Zour Refinery, Environmental Fuels Project, and LNG Import Terminal. In addition, they have also contributed to the construction sector. The South Korean company -- Incheon International Airport Company -- has been operating Terminal Four at Kuwait International Airport since 2018, while Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) is designing the master plan for the new South Saad Al-Abdullah City. HanmiGlobal is also seeking to participate in the management of one of the new city projects. Discussions are currently underway in various fields. We hope to expand the scope of cooperation to include new areas, such as renewable energy and high-speed trains. Q: Is there South Korean interest in participating in housing projects in Kuwait? 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A: Tourism between Korea and Kuwait witnessed steady growth in recent years in light of the success of the 'Visit Korea 2023-2024' campaign, which significantly increased Kuwaiti interest in South Korea. This positive trend continued in 2025. More than 4,400 Kuwaitis visited Korea in 2024, and this number is expected to increase with the facilitation of travel procedures. In an effort to enhance this increase, the South Korean government extended the exemption for Kuwaiti citizens from the electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) requirement until 2025. Q: What is your most memorable humanitarian experience during your tenure in Kuwait? A: Participating in an annual tree-planting event in Ahmadi, which was organized by the embassy in cooperation with the South Korean community and Kuwait Oil Company. A special area was designated for the South Korean community residing in Kuwait. I watched them voluntarily participate in the event. Working together with our Kuwaiti partners to protect the environment was a deeply moving experience. This initiative also reflects a broader vision I believe in -- establishing joint development cooperation between South Korea and Kuwait to support developing countries. The embassy is planning initiatives to promote cultural exchange, including the South Korean Food Festival in the second half of 2025. Q: What is your comment on the prevalence of South Korean language among Kuwaiti youths? A: A significant increase in interest in learning the South Korean language among Kuwaiti youths was observed in recent years, thanks to the growing popularity of South Korean culture worldwide like K-pop music, drama and South Korean cuisine. Many young Kuwaitis are showing a strong desire to engage with South Korean culture more deeply, and learning the South Korean language has become a natural extension of this interest. The embassy works closely with King Sejong Institute Foundation to offer language courses. words into action by working collectively and in cooperation with EU member states. Q: What is new regarding Schengen visa regulations and visa exemptions for Kuwaitis? A: Tens of thousands of Kuwaitis visit Europe annually. In recognition of this special relationship, the European Union implemented more lenient Schengen visa rules for Kuwaiti citizens in 2023; granting them multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years. Visa exemption for Kuwaitis remains one of my primary goals. Q: How do you view the humanitarian role that Kuwait plays globally, especially in light of its partnership with the European Union? A: Both the European Union and Kuwait are major humanitarian actors supporting the most vulnerable groups around the world, in cooperation with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Earlier this year, Director General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations at the European Commission Maciej Popowski visited Kuwait. During his meeting with Kuwaiti officials, the two parties agreed to continue cooperation during humanitarian crises and strengthen multilateral action. Q: Do you see opportunities for new trade or economic agreements between Kuwait and the European Union? A: The European Union is looking forward to strengthening its economic and trade partnerships with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Kuwait. During the first EU-GCC Summit last year, the leaders of the 27 EU member states and the six GCC member states affirmed their shared interest in establishing trade relations. A thriving and mutually beneficial investment relationship is developed through multilateral frameworks as needed. In this context, the European Union launched the European Chamber of Commerce in the Gulf last year, headquartered in Riyadh. This chamber serves as a platform for enhancing trade cooperation and promoting investment and trade exchange between the EU and the Gulf countries, including Kuwait. Kuwait is expected to host the EU-GCC Business Forum later this year, which will provide Kuwaiti companies with the opportunity to build cooperative networks with their European counterparts. Q: How do you describe current cooperation between the GCC and the EU, including security and intelligence cooperation? A: Cooperation between the EU and the GCC, including Kuwait, has witnessed significant development and expansion in several areas like economics, politics and security. Both parties recognize the strategic importance of cooperation in addressing common challenges; such as trade, energy sustainability, regional stability and security concerns. On the security and intelligence cooperation front, the two sides expressed a shared interest in strengthening their partnership; driven by a desire to ensure regional stability, combat terrorism and address cross-border challenges like cybercrime, arms proliferation and human trafficking. Several practical initiatives and dialogue mechanisms have been launched to support this cooperation, including the EU-GCC High-Level Regional Security Dialogue, which was held for the first time last year in Riyadh and is scheduled to be held again this year in Brussels. As part of joint efforts to address security challenges and promote regional stability, the European Union launched the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES naval operation to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf, including vessels using Kuwaiti ports. The mission of this operation, within its defense mandate, is to enhance maritime awareness, escort ships, and protect them from potential attacks at sea. 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During that historic summit, leaders agreed to strengthen trade and investment relations, cooperate in the fields of energy and green transition, expand cooperation in the fields of digitalization and innovation like artificial intelligence, strengthen peopleto- people ties, and expansion of academic and research partnerships. Security discussions also touched on issues such as Ukraine, Gaza, the two-state solution, Lebanon, Iran, and maritime security in the Red Sea. Both sides emphasized the need to strengthen security cooperation and combat terrorism. Q: What is your assessment of the future of the Gulf-EU Free Trade Agreement? A: The European Union believes that fair trade is a key driver of global prosperity. The EU-GCC Summit last October affirmed the shared goal of establishing a prosperous and mutually beneficial trade and investment relationship. We intend to continue discussions at the regional level with the aim of reaching a free trade agreement between the EU and the GCC. At the same time, the EU is open to strengthening its bilateral relations with the GCC countries, including Kuwait, and elevating our strategic partnerships to new levels. Q: How do you view Kuwait's role in promoting dialogue between the Gulf countries and the European Union? A: As the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Kuwait plays a key role in advancing our strategic partnership, building on the first EU-GCC Summit held in Brussels last year. I am pleased that Kuwait will host the 29th EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting later this year. The Ninth EU-GCC Business Forum will also be held in Kuwait at the end of this year. Q: Do you believe that cooperation in renewable energy between the Gulf and the EU is progressing at the desired pace? A: Cooperation between the EU and the Gulf countries in the field of green transition and renewable energy is witnessing significant progress. Relations between the two sides have strengthened through dialogue, partnerships and investments. European companies often cooperate on solar and wind energy projects in the Gulf. For example, in 2023, the European Union launched the 'EU-GCC Green Transition Cooperation' project in order to strengthen cooperation in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable resource management. Since then, I have been proud of collaborations between the EU and various sectors of government and society in Kuwait, resulting in many successful projects and activities over the past two years. There is a strong desire in Kuwait -- particularly among the business community, civil society and the younger generation -- to accelerate the green transformation process. I am confident that we can do more together.
