Three Armenian Entrepreneurs Featured in Forbes’ March Issue Ameriabank secures €105 million loan from EIB Global to boost small and medium-sized businesses in Armenia Ameriabank Raises $200 Million from IFC, Marking the Largest Transaction by IFC ever with a Financial Institution in Armenia Ameriabank Launches EventHub.am: a Streamlined and User-Friendly Ticketing Solution 4 border villages of Tavush have been gasified and in 3 villages drinking water supply system has been installed thanks to financing of 120 million drams from benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan Ameriabank named the Bank of the Year 2024 in Armenia by The Banker Magazine Armenia MFA spox: Peace treaty with Azerbaijan will gain higher legal force than any internal law after it’s signed There is no territorial claim against any country in text of Armenia's Constitution: Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry counters accusations coming from Baku Ararat Mirzoyan to participate in session of Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries in Moscow The stamp, the first day cover and the souvenir sheet dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, a businessman, benefactor, the founder of "Grand Holding" have been issued. Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts Mirzoyan and Prime Minister of Palestine signed communiqué on establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries 

‘Enlist or die’: Fear, looming famine and a deadly ultimatum swell the ranks of Sudan’s paramilitary forces

World
 

In mid-December, the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) swept into Sudan’s central Al Jazira state, known as the country’s breadbasket, with an ultimatum: “Enlist or die.”

Since then, the militia group has sought to use food as a weapon, withholding supplies from the hungry in a bid to coerce men and boys to join its ranks, according to over three dozen witnesses.

The RSF has been battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for control of the country since a civil war broke out between the two rival factions in April last year. Both forces have been accused of killing civilians. CNN reporting last year exposed an RSF-led campaign to enslave men and women, and other atrocities by the paramilitary group and its allied militias in Sudan’s western Darfur region – an area already scarred by what has been widely described as the 21st century’s first genocide.

Now, a CNN investigation has found that almost 700 men and 65 children have been forcibly recruited by the RSF over the past three months in Jazira state alone.

Many of the victims were identified by witnesses, survivors, and family members. CNN cross-checked their names with residents from their communities to get details of what happened in each case. The fighting has limited communications and restricted access to the media, making gathering accounts like these incredibly challenging.

CNN was independently able to corroborate the identities of all 750 people swept up by the RSF press gangs in Jazira. Of those, at least 600, including 50 boys under 18, joined the RSF in eastern Jazira, in many cases driven by hunger, witness testimonies revealed. Another 150, including 15 boys, were forcibly recruited in western Jazira. Many of the men previously worked as farmers or traders.

 

The RSF campaign unfolded in Sudan’s agricultural heartland during its peak cultivation and harvest period, exacerbating food insecurity in a country already on the brink of famine.

Eyewitnesses detailed a range of coercive methods employed by the RSF to compel individuals to join their ranks, including intimidation, torture, summary execution and the withholding of food and medical aid.

CNN has obtained and verified two videos from residents of a village in Jazira who described an RSF attack in early January. In one video, an RSF soldier, identified by his headgear and the insignia on his military fatigues, declares they have captured the village.

Հետևե՛ք -ին Youtube-ում`
Three Armenian Entrepreneurs Featured in Forbes’ March Issue Ameriabank Announces the Winners of “My Armenia, My Future” Student ContestAmeriabank named Armenia’s Best Investment Bank for 2025 by Global FinanceAmeriabank secures €105 million loan from EIB Global to boost small and medium-sized businesses in Armenia Ameriabank Raises $200 Million from IFC, Marking the Largest Transaction by IFC ever with a Financial Institution in ArmeniaAmeriabank Launches EventHub.am: a Streamlined and User-Friendly Ticketing Solution4 border villages of Tavush have been gasified and in 3 villages drinking water supply system has been installed thanks to financing of 120 million drams from benefactor Mikayel VardanyanAmeriabank named the Bank of the Year 2024 in Armenia by The Banker MagazineAmeriabank Named Armenia’s Best Bank for Real Estate by EuromoneyThanks to Karen Vardanyan's support of 119 million, two military sports colleges have been furnished with modern sports equipment and busesBusinessman and benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan was awarded the title of Honorary citizen of Masis communityRay Brown Jr. Yerevan More than 70 percent of referendum participants supported construction of nuclear power plant in KazakhstanSeparate meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is not planned: Armenia's Foreign MinistryRussia and Ukraine continue to strike each other's territoriesArmenia MFA spox: Peace treaty with Azerbaijan will gain higher legal force than any internal law after it’s signed A new concept for passwords: Why random character sets are no longer considered good passwordsThere is no territorial claim against any country in text of Armenia's Constitution: Spokesperson of Foreign Ministry counters accusations coming from BakuTime for a ceasefire has now come: Macron to NetanyahuIran announced suspension of some flights in territory of countryPresident Vahagn Khachaturyan paid a working visit to GermanyArarat Mirzoyan to participate in session of Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS countries in MoscowThe stamp, the first day cover and the souvenir sheet dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan, a businessman, benefactor, the founder of "Grand Holding" have been issued.Ameriabank’s Special Offer for New Mastercard Holders. 1% Cashback and Lots of Gifts Astronomers make sensational discovery that refutes well-known theses about dark matterEmily in Paris star reveals why she wouldn't wear her character's clothes in 'real life'Our martyrs opened for us a new opportunity of having a state: PashinyanBelarus, Russia plan to sign treaty on security guarantees: RyzhenkovMirzoyan and Prime Minister of Palestine signed communiqué on establishment of diplomatic relations between two countriesBaerbock and Bayramov discussed settlement process between Armenia and AzerbaijanLavrov and Araghchi discussed situation in South CaucasusIsraeli army called on residents of suburbs of Beirut to evacuate immediatelyHezbollah fired at least 65 rockets in direction of Israel: IDFIsrael is not in conflict with Lebanon: Representative of Israel at UNIran to take measures following Israeli strike on Beirut: PezeshkianOur thoughts are with soldiers fallen on battlefield, their families, friends: Olivier DecottigniesMeghan Markle was ‘demon’ as boss who had ‘psychopathic moments,’ ex-employees sayFour years ago on this day, Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-KarabakhHarris believes Ukraine should not cede territory to achieve peacePapikyan participated in tribute event dedicated to victims of 44-day warArarat Mirzoyan expressed condolences to Abdallah Bou Habib on death of Lebanese citizensMirzoyan presented to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia efforts to conclude peace treaty with AzerbaijanArmen Grigoryan and Charles Fries discussed issue of providing assistance to Armenia through European Peace InstrumentThere is still no decision on next stage of border liberalization processes: Mher GrigoryanLilit Makunts and Joshua Volz discussed cooperation between Armenia and US in energy sectorAll those claims that Armenia has agreed somewhere, in some document, that third forces shall provide security of communications on its territory, are simply distortion of reality: PashinyanBlinken-Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting kicks-off in New YorkFM statement at G20: Normalization of relations with neighbors is one of Armenia’s main prioritiesEconomy minister: Wheat production in Armenia is not economically expedientIsrael FM rejects proposals for ceasefire in Lebanon