Latest news with #Tripoli
Zawya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Libyan University students: Elections are needed urgently
Fifty-seven young men and women from universities across Libya joined the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for in a dedicated youth consultation on Wednesday to share their ideas around the Advisory Committee's recommendations and stressed the need for urgent inclusive election to establish stability and legitimacy. Students from Bent Bayya, Western Mountain, Gharyan, Ain Zara, Azzawya, Abu Salim, Tripoli Center, Sabratha, Zintan, Qasr Ben Ghashir, Sirt, Al-Bayda, Hay Andlus, Sebha, Benghazi, Murzuq, Al-Khums, Al-Araban, and Kabo joined the discussion, with many favouring the first option, which suggests holding near simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. over others to avoid perpetuating division. Participants said it was essential that the military be unified and divisive instituons be institutions to avoiding reproducing the status quo. They highlighted a lack of trust and said that corruption was a significant obstacle to securing fair elections. Others added that cultural components are often marginalized politically in Libya, making the reality of inclusive elections unlikely. 'The second option, holding legislative elections first, is a continuation of a vicious cycle that we have tried twice and which has not succeeded since 2011,' said one participant. 'We need presidential elections.' Others agreed saying they feared a repeat of the 2014 scenario when a parliament was elected that rejected a peaceful transfer of power and added that the first option avoided the prolongation of transitional periods. 'The people's current priority is to expedite the dismantling of existing institutions,' another participant said, arguing in favour of the Advisory Committee's fourth option, under which a political dialogue forum would be convened to establish a constituent assembly that would establish an interim government. 'National reconciliation is being used to make money by those in power. The fourth option is the best option for the roadmap.' Other participants highlighted that there must be agreement on a clear constitutional basis before moving forward with elections – the Advisory Committee's third option – saying democracy could not be built in the current distorted situation. 'The lack of legitimacy is the greatest challenge,' said another participant. 'Therefore, a clear and binding date must be set, under the supervision of UNSMIL, allowing everyone to participate in the elections without excluding any party for any reason, and ensuring the voice of the people is heard." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Libyan war crimes suspect arrested in Germany under ICC warrant
A Libyan man suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity has been arrested in Germany on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, commonly known as "Al-Buti", is alleged to have been one of the most senior officials at the Mitiga Prison complex in the capital, Tripoli, where thousands of people were is suspected of having committed, ordered or overseen crimes including murder, torture and atrocities were allegedly committed in the detention unit near Tripoli in the five years from 2015. There is no record of him commenting on the allegations. The ICC has issued 11 arrest warrants in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Libya since the ousting and killing of the country's long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, which plunged Libya into civil situation was referred to the court by the United Nations Security Council in February 2011, at the start of the protests which led to Gaddafi's ousting later that year, with the help of Nato its referral, the Security Council condemned the "violence and use of force against civilians... the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators".It also expressed "deep concern at the deaths of civilians", while "rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government", then under the overthrow of Gaddafi, after six decades in power, Libya has been split into areas controlled by various militias and is currently divided between two rival governments. On 12 May 2025, Libya accepted the ICC's jurisdiction over its territory from 2011 to the end of other public ICC arrest warrants are still pending in connection with the violence that followed the fall of this year, Italy controversially released Osama Najim - also known as Almasri - who was allegedly the director of the Mitiga detention International says Mitiga Prison was the scene of "horrific violations committed with total impunity".Some of those kept in Mitiga are migrants trying to reach Najim was freed due to a legal technicality, according to sources in Italy's interior ICC said Mr Najim had been released by Italy "without prior notice or consultation with the Court" and issued another arrest warrant for him. He remains a Hishri will remain in detention in Germany until arrangements are made for him to be surrendered to the ICC's custody and extradited to face justice in The case will join others in the court's ongoing efforts to address crimes committed during Libya's conflict, though other suspects remain at large.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
A Libyan accused of war crimes has been arrested in Germany, ICC says
A Libyan accused by the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity and war crimes has been arrested in Germany on a sealed arrest warrant, the court announced Friday. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri was allegedly one of the most senior officials at Miriga Prison in Tripoli where thousands of people were detained. He was arrested Wednesday based on a warrant issued by the court on July 10. 'He is suspected of having committed directly himself, ordered or overseen crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 to early 2020,' the ICC said in a statement. El Hishri will remain in custody in Germany until legal proceedings to have him transported to The Hague are completed. The court relies on other countries to execute its arrest warrants. It paid tribute to German authorities for detaining El Hishri. 'I thank the national authorities for their strong and consistent cooperation with the Court, including leading to this recent arrest," ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler said in a statement. The United Nations Security Council called on the ICC to open an investigation in Libya in 2011 amid violence that led to the toppling of Moammar Gadhafi and morphed into a crippling civil war. The court issued a warrant for the longtime Libyan strongman, but he was killed by rebels before he could be detained. The court has arrest warrants out for eight other Libyan suspects, including one of Gadhafi's sons. Earlier this year, authorities in Libya accepted the court's jurisdiction over the country from 2011 through to the end of 2027.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Western community leaders, Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) confer on security situation and political roadmap
Fifteen representatives of communities from across the Western region met with the Special Representative of the Secretary General to further discuss the security situation and share their opinions on the way forward to develop a political roadmap on Monday. Participants, which included municipal leaders and notables, stressed that the transitional period needs to come to an end, and that any political process must move forward in an environment free from security tensions. The participants suggested weapons be withdrawn from Tripoli to protect civilian lives and the security institutions of the government secure the capital. Participants were briefed on the four options put forward by the Advisory Committee in May. As outlined in the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee's report, the options include: Option 1: Presidential and legislative elections are to be conducted within two years, commencing once a political settlement is reached on the legal status and financial independence of HNEC, the necessary amendments to the constitutional and legal framework for elections, and a unified government. The political settlement should include provisions for adopting a permanent constitution for the country. Option 2: A bicameral legislative council will be elected within two years, with the drafting and ratification of the constitution entrusted to the Senate. The new constitution will regulate all subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections. Option 3: Adopt a constitution, prior to elections. This option involves examining the challenges associated with the 2017 draft constitution and exploring the feasibility of drafting a new constitution. Option 4: Activate the dialogue mechanism and replace existing institutional stakeholders with a constituent assembly through LPA Article 64 dialogue process. 'We support fourth option put forward by the Advisory Committee because previous and current governments have supported militias, which has contributed to the deterioration of the security, political and economic situation in Libya,' said one representative. Others said that elders were working across communities to continue local mediation and avoid further violence, and that 143 mukhtars from 11 municipalities wanted to convey the message that war should be avoided and dialogue promoted to resolve differences peacefully. Highlighting deficient infrastructure and basic services, representatives also said citizens in their areas were seriously suffering from shortcomings in the educational and health sector. 'Certain individuals do not want the Libyans to move on,' said one representative. 'At this critical juncture, our priority should be focused on a process that leads to a unified government that effectively addresses security and economic issues, as well as citizens' concerns, in the western region and across Libya.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Arab News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
The Levant swings between dreams and deals
The talk of a new Middle Eastern 'deal' we have been hearing over the past few days is jarring. The agreement reportedly being cooked up sees Syria cede the Golan Heights to Israel in return for the Lebanese city of Tripoli. The official reactions of Lebanese parties, of course, mixed outrage and condemnation. However, those who understand the intentions they hold behind the scenes and see the implications of Benjamin Netanyahu shaping Washington's vision and approach to the Middle East will address this development with the seriousness it deserves. Moreover, this apparent deal was leaked as Israel tightened its control over Iran's airspace and expanded its list of targets inside Iran. Not only that, but it also coincided with the tacit alignment of Washington, Tel Aviv and Ankara's visions regarding all regional crises, from the Kurdish question to what remains of the Palestinian struggle. Some observers now believe that the Washington-Tel Aviv axis has new priorities with regard to the sectarian dynamics of the Levant, at least temporarily, following the transition from Barack Obama and Joe Biden to Donald Trump. The irony, however, is this same American (Republican) and Israeli (Likud) right had originally bet on 'political Shiism' in the region during the buildup to the invasion of Iraq. Back then, it was the American neoconservatives, working closely alongside the Israeli right, that steered George W. Bush's presidency via his White House advisers and Pentagon officials. Some observers now believe that the Washington-Tel Aviv axis has new priorities with regard to the sectarian dynamics of the Levant Eyad Abu Shakra At the time, the US was also trying to overcome a trauma, that of 9/11. The neoconservatives exploited this catastrophe to occupy Iraq, which was eventually handed over to Iran. The leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority that oversaw Iraq's transition, Paul Bremer, even boasted that his administration had 'ended a thousand years of Sunni rule' in Iraq. As the saying goes, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 2003. To begin with, despite the Democrats' sympathy for the so-called Arab Spring in several Arab countries, they and the Israeli leadership refrained from supporting the Syrian uprising against Bashar Assad's regime. Later, they effectively turned a blind eye to Iran's military intervention to rescue the Syrian regime. Moreover, the Democratic leadership was keen on ensuring the success of the nuclear deal it had signed with Iran after the Muscat negotiations. As a result of this deal, and the policies pursued by the Obama and Biden administrations, Tehran felt empowered to move freely across the region. In contrast, Netanyahu and his Likud allies never forgot their apprehensions about Iran's role in the Arab arena and continued to seek containment. However, it is clear that Israel has been the biggest beneficiary of Iran's role in the region. It was happy to see Iran become a 'bogeyman' that frightened Arab states and compelled them to rush toward normalization with Tel Aviv in pursuit of protection. Moreover, Israel has never truly been concerned by the bombastic rhetoric of the so-called resistance regimes and parties, so long as its borders remained secure … and the possibility of expanding them remained available. Still, in one way or another, the events of Oct. 7, 2023 (the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched from the Gaza Strip), was a replay of 9/11. That day undoubtedly marked a turning point for regional alliances, leading to a shift in priorities. Without minimizing the tragedy in Gaza, the most dangerous aspect of Israel's political response was Netanyahu's stated intention to 'reshape the Middle East.' The Al-Aqsa Flood operation undoubtedly marked a turning point for regional alliances, leading to a shift in priorities Eyad Abu Shakra In Trump, Netanyahu found his long-sought prize. Trump is an ideal partner in drawing this map over the rubble of political entities that never meant anything to either of them, and at the expense of peoples who have never factored into their political calculations. Indeed, the future of Palestine has rarely seemed as bleak and hopeless since 1948. As for Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, whose borders were drawn by the Sykes-Picot Agreement (which completed what the Balfour Declaration had begun), they may now need to brace for a world in which Turkiye is the region's second power, behind Israel. Lebanon's most sectarian non-Sunni hard-liners likely would not object, in my view, to ceding more than half of the Sunni population and giving up Tripoli (and Akkar and Dinniyeh), if Washington and Tel Aviv guaranteed 'privileges' for the Christians and Shiites. In fact, many Lebanese Christians have lost hope in the very idea of 'Greater Lebanon,' which was born in 1920 and saw Tripoli and other areas added to the country. And many Shiite extremists would be happy to secure a demographic majority by reducing the number of Sunnis in the country. As for Syria, the Sunni majority seems well placed to strengthen its position and to address the fears of the Alawite, Christian, Druze and Kurdish minorities through a deal between the US and Turkiye. Moreover, it is worth keeping an eye on the Syrian-Iraqi border amid the radical shifts and consequential negotiations underway in the Kurdish arena. So, one wonders: will dreams align with the fine print of the deals? Or are we back to the mess of trial and error?
