AU Urges Permanent Ceasefire in Libya After Clashes
The African Union called for a permanent ceasefire in Libya on Saturday after deadly clashes in the capital earlier this month and demonstrations demanding the resignation of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, head of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The latest fighting in the conflict-torn North African country pitted an armed group aligned with the Tripoli-based GNU against factions it has sought to dismantle, resulting in at least eight dead, according to the United Nations.
Despite a lack of a formal ceasefire, the clashes mostly ended last week, with the Libya Defense Ministry saying this week that efforts towards a truce were "ongoing".
On Saturday, the AU's Peace and Security Council condemned the recent violence, calling for an "unconditional and permanent ceasefire".
In a statement on X, the council urged "inclusive, Libyan-led reconciliation", adding that it "appeals for no external interference".
Libya is split between the GNU in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east.
The clashes were sparked by the killing of an armed faction leader by a group aligned with Dbeibah's government -- the 444 Brigade, which later fought a third group, the Radaa force that controls parts of eastern Tripoli and the city's airport.
It came after Dbeibah announced a string of executive orders seeking to dismantle Radaa and dissolve other Tripoli-based armed groups but excluding the 444 Brigade.
Egypt has flown 71 nationals home from Tripoli following the unrest, the foreign ministry said.
Friday's special flight by flag carrier EgyptAir "enabled the repatriation of 71 Egyptian citizens who had expressed a desire to come home", the ministry said.
Türkiye evacuated 82 of its nationals from Tripoli on a similar repatriation flight last week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Veto Against UN Resolution Demanding Gaza Ceasefire Draws Criticisms
The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages, saying it would embolden Hamas militants. All 14 other members of the council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic' and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory. The resolution before the UN's most powerful body also did not fulfill two other US demands: It did not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza, The Associated Press reported. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea, speaking to the council immediately before the vote, said the resolution would undermine the security of Israel. a close US ally, and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire 'that reflects the realities on the ground." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the resolution would only have empowered Hamas. 'Hamas could end this brutal conflict immediately by laying down its arms and releasing all remaining hostages,' he said in a statement. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon thanked the United States for refusing to abandon the hostages. He said the resolution's failure to make the release of hostages a condition for a ceasefire would have put all the pressure on Israel and handed Hamas 'time, leverage and political cover.' What other members of the Security Council say But the US veto of the resolution — its fifth since the start of the war — was roundly criticized by other members of the council, who accused the United States of providing Israel with impunity. The Chinese ambassador to the UN said Israel's actions have 'crossed every red line' of international humanitarian law and seriously violated UN resolutions. 'Yet, due to the shielding by one country, these violations have not been stopped or held accountable," Ambassador Fu Cong said. Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward, a usual US ally, lashed out at Israel. 'This Israeli government's decisions to expand its military operations in Gaza and severely restrict aid are unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive, and the UK completely opposes them,' she said. Pakistan's Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the US veto "will be remembered as a complicity, a green light for continued annihilation. A moment where the entire world was expecting action. But yet again, this council was blocked and prevented by one member from carrying out its responsibility.' Slovenia's UN Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, the coordinator for the council's 10 elected members, stressed that it was never the intention to provoke a veto and therefore the resolution focused on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for unimpeded access to deliver aid. 'Starving civilians and inflicting immense suffering is inhumane and against international law,' he told the council after the vote. 'No war objective can justify such action. We had hoped and expected that this was our shared understanding.' Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Palestinians are now urging governments to take 'real measures' to pressure Israel to get out of Gaza before it implements what he called an Israeli plan 'to destroy our people." And in the coming days, he said, the Palestinians will head to the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, with a similar humanitarian-focused resolution. Unlike in the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are seen as a barometer of world opinion. The US vetoed the last Security Council resolution on Gaza in November, under the Biden administration, also because the ceasefire demand was not directly linked to the release of all hostages. Similarly, the current resolution demands those taken by Hamas and other groups be released, but it does not make it a condition for a truce. President Donald Trump's administration has tried to ramp up its efforts to broker peace in Gaza after 20 months of war. However, Hamas has sought amendments to a US proposal that special envoy Steve Witkoff has called 'totally unacceptable.' Why food aid is not reaching people in Gaza The vote followed a decision by an Israeli and US-backed foundation to pause food delivery in Gaza after health officials said dozens of Palestinians were killed in a series of shootings this week. Israel and the United States say the new system was designed to prevent Hamas from stealing aid previously distributed by the UN. The United Nations has rejected the new system. The UN says its distribution system worked very well during the March ceasefire and is carefully monitored. Gaza is almost completely reliant on international aid because Israel's offensive has destroyed nearly all food production capabilities. Israel imposed a blockade on supplies into Gaza on March 2, and limited aid began to enter again late last month after pressure from allies and warnings of famine. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The ministry is led by medical professionals but reports to the Hamas-run government. Its toll is seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts, though Israel has challenged its numbers
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
US hails Pakistan role in India ceasefire, counterterrorism cooperation
ISLAMABAD: The United States on Wednesday praised Pakistan's leadership for helping broker a ceasefire with India and deepening counterterrorism cooperation, saying such efforts had made both nations and the wider region more secure. The comments were made by US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker at her country's Independence Day reception in Islamabad. The ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump on May 10 following a four-day standoff between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, during which the two sides exchanged missile, drone and artillery fire in one of the most intense military escalations in their recent history. 'Our collaboration helped broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, a reminder that when we stand together, even persistent tensions can find a path to peace,' Baker said in her remarks. 'I want to echo President Trump's deep appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal [Asim] Munir for their leadership and commitment in choosing the path of peace,' she continued, calling their vision 'transformative' while hoping to 'take the US-Pakistan relationship into new frontiers.' The US diplomat described the security and defense cooperation between the two countries as a pillar of bilateral partnership. 'For decades, our militaries have trained together, operated together and stood together to address shared threats, from terrorism to regional instability,' she continued. 'Through joint exercises, capacity-building programs and military education exchanges, we've improved not only the security of our own nations but the safety of the wider region.' 'I want to acknowledge and thank our US and Pakistani military officials for your dedication, sacrifice and shared mission to make both our countries safer – a legacy we deeply honor,' she added. Baker cited Pakistan's recent capture and extradition of the Daesh militant responsible for the deadly 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul as a major milestone, saying it reflected growing operational trust between the two countries. The attack killed 13 American service members and over 160 Afghan civilians during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. 'Thanks to the leadership and resolve of Pakistan's military and security authorities, terrorists are being brought to justice,' she said. 'As President Trump noted in his March address to the US Congress, the bravery and wisdom of Pakistan's leadership has made both of our nations more secure.' The event marked the 249th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence and was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials, diplomats, business leaders and civil society representatives. Baker said the bilateral US-Pakistan relationship had grown stronger across multiple sectors, from security and trade to innovation and cultural exchange.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UAE, Egypt Stress Importance of Two-State Solution
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, have stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and work towards a clear political horizon for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. Sheikh Mohamed met with Sisi in Abu Dhabi on ways to further strengthen cooperation between their two countries across various sectors, particularly those that advance their shared development goals. A statement said that the two leaders also reviewed regional and international issues of mutual concern and exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East, particularly efforts to restore security and stability in the region. 'They stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and work towards a clear political horizon for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, ensuring security and stability for all,' said a statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Wednesday. Sheikh Mohamed and Sisi 'reaffirmed their shared commitment to continued consultation and coordination between the UAE and Egypt on matters that serve the interests of both nations and support efforts to promote regional peace, security, and stability as essential foundations for development and prosperity,' it added. Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said the meeting in Abu Dhabi 'also addressed the situations in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia as well as other regional developments.' El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed 'confirmed the paramount need to protect the security and sovereignty of these countries, thereby achieving their peoples' aspirations for stability and prosperity,' El-Shennawy said. The two leaders also affirmed the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza in adequate quantities and without impediments, to save the people of the Palestinian enclave from the dire humanitarian conditions, he added.
