Latest news with #Tripoli
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Charting a mine-free future: The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Italy convene Libya's first Mine Action Support Group
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the Government of Italy brought together international partners for the first Libya Mine Action Support Group in Tripoli on Tuesday, which focused on better protecting the people of Libya from mines and unexploded ordnance. The meeting aimed to enhance coordination among donor states, facilitate discussion on mine action activities in Libya, and highlight critical funding gaps and priority needs to better coordinate support to the sector. 'Supporting mine action in Libya is not just about clearance. It is about protection, dignity, and hope,' said Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hanna Tetteh. ' What Libyans cannot afford is more contamination, more loss, and more fear. Libya needs stability, not more explosive hazards.' Despite relative calm in parts of Libya, mines and unexploded ordnance from sporadic clashes and long-standing contamination continue to endanger civilians. Since 2020, more than 420 casualties have been recorded due to explosive remnants of war. However, these figures do not reflect the full reality, they only represent the confirmed incidents. SRSG Tetteh urged the international community to focus on the value of every life impacted. 'We must never measure suffering in numbers,' she said. 'The life of one child, one farmer, one worker; each life holds equal value. Every step towards safety and recovery matters.' The meeting was hosted by the Ambassador of Italy to Libya, Gianluca Alberini, who welcomed participants with a message of solidarity and emphasized the urgency of collective responsibility. ' Italy remains a steadfast partner in Libya's path to safety and stability,' he said. 'Our commitment to mine action is rooted in our belief that every life saved, every community cleared, is a step toward peace.' The Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Libya, Fatma Zourrig, delivered a presentation on efforts to clear explosive hazards in Libya, strengthen national capacity, and called for sustained support to ensure long-term safety and stability. As of mid-2025, over 438 million square meters remain contaminated. Since 2011, mine action partners have cleared nearly 248 million square meters, while delivering between 2023-mid 2025 more than 13,600 risk education sessions to over 104,000 beneficiaries, including thousands of women and girls. Significant institutional progress was also highlighted. The Libya National Mine Action Strategy is currently under development, alongside an ongoing review of Libyan Mine Action Standards. Originally developed with the support of UNMAS in 2015 and adopted and published Libyan Mine Action Centre in 2017, the revised standards will ensure alignment with global best practices. The gathering came in support of the Secretary‑General's global campaign, which upholds humanitarian disarmament, accelerates mine action as an enabler of human rights and sustainable development, and drives forward the vision of a mine-free world. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August
BEIRUT: Air Algerie has announced the resumption of flights to Beirut, starting on Aug. 14. The announcement follows an Algerian-Lebanese summit between the countries' presidents, Joseph Aoun and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, held in Algiers on Tuesday. Algeria's Tebboune confirmed he had issued instructions for Air Algerie to resume flights to Beirut, with two weekly flights starting within the next two weeks. Tickets are already on sale through the airline's commercial offices and website. Tebboune also said discussions would be held on the establishment of a maritime line between Algeria and the port of Tripoli, in northern Lebanon. The link would aim to boost industry and commerce, especially during the country's reconstruction phase. He pledged 'unwavering support to Lebanon' in the area of renewable energy, including the construction of solar power plants. 'Agreements covering financial, economic and cultural cooperation will be signed in the near future,' Tebboune said during a joint press conference with Aoun following the summit. Aoun said: 'Lebanon aspires to enter every brotherly Arab country and every Arab home with love and brotherhood. We do not interfere in the affairs of our brothers, nor do they interfere in ours —except to support what is in the best interest of each of us and for all our nations, in a spirit of full respect and genuine cooperation.' On Tuesday, Tebboune awarded Aoun the Order of National Merit, Athir class, the highest honor Algeria can bestow upon heads of state. It was presented 'in recognition of the relations of brotherhood and mutual understanding, and the historically significant positions shared between Algeria and Lebanon.' The summit included bilateral talks which resulted in 'important decisions to activate cooperation and strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields.' A joint statement said discussions focused on reconstruction efforts following extensive damage caused by Israeli attacks on Lebanon, during which the Lebanese delegation presented a detailed memorandum outlining the country's reconstruction needs. During a press conference with Aoun, Tebboune reiterated Algeria's commitment to Lebanon's security and stability. He also highlighted efforts at Security Council level to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and to support the UN resolution to renew the mandate of UNIFIL. The summit also saw a decision to 'activate the political consultation mechanism between the two countries, which has been held once since 2002, and to announce assistance in the field of renewable energy, the construction of solar power plants, and other areas.' The Algerian president confirmed the need to expedite the convening of the first session of the Algerian-Lebanese Joint Committee as a new starting point and a driving framework for effective, sustainable cooperation. Aoun said Arab solidarity was essential for Lebanon's strength. 'I have great hopes of rescuing my country from imminent dangers and restoring a state with all its attributes, chief among them full, undiminished and exclusive sovereignty over its entire territory and all its people,' he said. Aoun praised Algeria's 'steadfast support for Lebanon,' adding it 'has consistently been present in Arab efforts to help Lebanon overcome its crises and resolve its internal and external conflicts.' As part of the summit, Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos and Algerian Minister of Communication Mohamed Meziane signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening media cooperation between the two countries. On the second day of his visit, Aoun visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Bab El Oued district. The church, perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, was the first Catholic church in Africa in the name of the Virgin Mary. Designed by French architect Jean-Eugene Fromageau, it was completed in 1872. Aoun left a message in the church's guest book that said: 'It is no surprise that the Virgin Mary inspires a culture of coexistence, dialogue and mutual respect among civilizations and religions in Algeria. For Christians, she has always been a mother, an intercessor, and a symbol of love and devotion. Few things capture the nobility of this historic cathedral's message, standing for a century and a half as a witness to humanity's journey in Algeria, better than the words engraved upon it: 'Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims'.' Aoun also visited the Great Mosque of Algiers, locally known as Djamaa El-Djazair, where Sheikh Mamoun Al-Qasimi spoke to him about the religious values and true meanings of Islam, which he said included moderation and openness toward other religions. The Great Mosque of Algiers is the largest mosque in Africa. Its main prayer hall can accommodate 32,000 worshippers and the entire complex, including the courtyard and outdoor areas, can host up to 120,000 people. It is the world's third-largest mosque after the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. In 2021 it received the International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Aoun also left a note in the mosque's guest book that said: 'The Great Mosque of Algiers undoubtedly fosters a spirit of coexistence, tolerance, and moderation. These values resonate throughout Algeria, in the heart of its people, and in the soul of all visitors.'
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Libyan coast guards train in Greece under plan to stem migrant flows
ATHENS, July 30 (Reuters) - Libyan coast guard officers have started training on the Greek island of Crete as part of a plan to strengthen cooperation and help the two countries stem a surge in migrant arrivals, Greek sources said on Wednesday. Relations between Greece and Libya have been strained by a maritime boundary agreement signed in 2019 between the Tripoli-based Libyan government and Turkey, Greece's long-standing foe. A tender that Greece launched this year to develop hydrocarbon resources off Crete revived those tensions, while a spike in migrant flows from North Africa to Europe has prompted Athens to deploy frigates off Libya and pass legislation banning migrants arriving from Libya by sea from requesting asylum. The division of Libya by factional conflict into eastern and western sections for over a decade has further complicated relations. Greece says it is determined to continue talking to both the Tripoli-based government and a parallel administration based in Benghazi to the east. So far, coast guard officers from eastern Libya have been training in Greece, including areas such as patrolling and search and rescue operations. Coast guard officers from western Libya are expected to also participate in the training, the sources said. As part of efforts to improve relations, Athens last week invited Libya's internationally recognised government in Tripoli to start talks on demarcating exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea. Missions from both countries are expected to hold talks on maritime zones in the coming months, the Greek sources said.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) takes note of High Council of State (HCS) Presidency elections, invites constructive engagement in the political process
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) followed the live broadcast of the High Council of State (HCS) session on Sunday, 27 July, during which 95 members elected a new Presidency. The Mission noted that voting proceeded under normal conditions and with transparency. UNSMIL is of the view that yesterday's two-thirds attendance reflects a broad consensus among members to overcome the division that has hindered its ability to fulfill its responsibilities over the last year. The Mission echoes the calls to expand internal consensus by engaging those members who did not attend yesterday's session. The Mission congratulates the new Presidency and looks forward to constructive engagement with all Council members to break the stalemate, advance the political process, and end the protracted transitional phases. It further expects the Council to responsibly carry out its functions, as outlined in the Libyan Political Agreement, consistent with its independent political role and Libyans' aspirations to end institutional division, restore legitimacy through elections and contribute to necessary reforms. The Mission encourages the HCS membership to fulfill their patriotic duties and rise to the expectations of the Libyan people by supporting a Libyan led and Libyan owned political process facilitated by UNSMIL. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Arab News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Libya detains 1,500 undocumented migrant workers in raid near Tripoli
TRIPOLI: Libyan authorities detained on Saturday some 1,500 undocumented migrant workers in a raid on a neighborhood housing them east of the capital Tripoli, an AFP reporter saw. 'Saturday's inspections uncovered housing units where undocumented foreign workers were living,' Libyan labor minister Ali Al-Abed, who was present during the raid, told reporters. 'These workers, of various nationalities, had no residency permits, no official passports, and not even health records.' Libya has been gripped by conflict since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising. The country remains split between Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah's government based in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the east. With Italy some 300 kilometers (186 miles) away, Libya has become a key launchpad for tens of thousands of migrants who risk their lives at sea trying to reach Europe. The area targeted in the sweep east of Tripoli housed makeshift encampments surrounded by high walls and a large gate. Hundreds of migrants — mostly Egyptians and sub-Saharan Africans — were said to have lived there. Inside the compound, an AFP journalist saw a small grocery store, a butcher shop and vegetable vendors. The labor minister said the site had 'unregulated housing that fails to meet basic requirements for decent accommodation, health and workplace safety.' The detained migrant workers will be 'transferred to centers run by the Anti-Illegal Immigration Authority, and legal proceedings will be initiated against them according to national regulations,' Abed said. It remained unclear whether the migrants would be immediately deported. Earlier this month, a European Union commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the North African country. Migrants intercepted by Libyan authorities, including in international waters before reaching the Italian coast, are forcibly returned to Libya and held in detention under harsh conditions frequently condemned by the United Nations.
