Latest news with #politicalchaos
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Libya commander Haftar seeks to force international engagement
On July 8, an EU commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the North African country. Their visit was divided in two, as is Libya, which is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The delegation first visited the capital Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognised Libyan government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah. They then travelled to Benghazi, in the east, where a rival administration backed by Haftar and his clan is based, and with whom the EU has generally avoided direct contact. Almost immediately, a reported disagreement prompted the eastern authorities to accuse the European delegation of a "flagrant breach of diplomatic norms", ordering the visiting dignitaries to leave. In Brussels, the European Commission admitted a "protocol issue". Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the scene at the airport "was a calculated move". Haftar was playing to EU fears of irregular migration in order "to generate de facto European recognition", and thus "broaden relations with Europe away from just engagement with him as a local military leader". Turning the delegation away showed that declining to engage with the eastern civilian administration was no longer an option. 'Punish Athens' The complex situation in Libya has required unusual diplomacy. European governments recognise and work with the Tripoli-based government and not the eastern administration, but still hold contact with Haftar's military forces. In their visit earlier this month, the European commissioner and ministers were meant to meet with eastern military officials. But once at the Benghazi airport, they saw "there were people there that we had not agreed to meet", a European official in Brussels told journalists on condition of anonymity. "We had to fly back," the official said, adding that "of course" it was linked to recognition of the eastern government. Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said she did not believe "it was a premeditated incident". But "the question does present itself as to why" ministers from the eastern government were at the airport in the first place, and why Haftar would let it play out the way it did, she said. "We can't completely rule out that there was some particular issue or bilateral disagreement with one of the countries represented in the delegation," Gazzini added. Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui suggested Greece may have been the target. On July 6, two days before the axed visit, "the Greek foreign minister had come to demand concessions on migration and maritime (issues) without offering any tangible incentives", Harchaoui said. Despite Haftar's personal involvement, the July 6 visit "had yielded nothing", added the expert. Then, on July 8, "a Greek representative -- this time as part of an EU delegation -- wanted to negotiate on the same day with the rival Tripoli government, placing the two governments on an equal footing", he said. This was "an affront in Benghazi's view", Harchaoui said, and the administration wanted to "punish Athens". Legitimacy To Harchaoui, the diplomatic flap was a sign not to "underestimate" the Haftars' foreign policy. "The Haftar family is an absolutely essential actor" in tackling the influx of migrants or, for example, advancing energy projects, due to its key role in securing Libya's eastern coast, said Harchaoui. The message delivered at the Benghazi airport "is clear: take the eastern faction seriously", he added. Harchaoui said that the Haftars, already "rich in cash and strong" in terms of strategic assets, have recently increased efforts to "consolidate their legitimacy". Haftar himself was hosted in February by French President Emmanuel Macron, and in May by Russia's Vladimir Putin. And Haftar's son, Saddam, recently visited the United States, Turkey, Italy and Niger. Even Ankara, which has provided support for the Tripoli-based government in repelling attacks from the east, "is now seeking to further profit off the Haftars through things like construction projects", said Megerisi. He added that Turkey also has wider geopolitical ambitions, hoping to see the Haftars endorse a maritime border agreement in the eastern Mediterranean, which Tripoli had already signed but Athens regards as illegal. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Libya commander Haftar seeks to force international engagement
Libya's eastern authorities recently expelled a senior European delegation in a move analysts say was meant to send a message: the unrecognised administration backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar cannot be ignored. On July 8, an EU commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the North African country. Their visit was divided in two, as is Libya, which is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The delegation first visited the capital Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognised Libyan government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah. They then travelled to Benghazi, in the east, where a rival administration backed by Haftar and his clan is based, and with whom the EU has generally avoided direct contact. Almost immediately, a reported disagreement prompted the eastern authorities to accuse the European delegation of a "flagrant breach of diplomatic norms", ordering the visiting dignitaries to leave. In Brussels, the European Commission admitted a "protocol issue". Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the scene at the airport "was a calculated move". Haftar was playing to EU fears of irregular migration in order "to generate de facto European recognition", and thus "broaden relations with Europe away from just engagement with him as a local military leader". Turning the delegation away showed that declining to engage with the eastern civilian administration was no longer an option. - 'Punish Athens' - The complex situation in Libya has required unusual diplomacy. European governments recognise and work with the Tripoli-based government and not the eastern administration, but still hold contact with Haftar's military forces. In their visit earlier this month, the European commissioner and ministers were meant to meet with eastern military officials. But once at the Benghazi airport, they saw "there were people there that we had not agreed to meet", a European official in Brussels told journalists on condition of anonymity. "We had to fly back," the official said, adding that "of course" it was linked to recognition of the eastern government. Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said she did not believe "it was a premeditated incident". But "the question does present itself as to why" ministers from the eastern government were at the airport in the first place, and why Haftar would let it play out the way it did, she said. "We can't completely rule out that there was some particular issue or bilateral disagreement with one of the countries represented in the delegation," Gazzini added. Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui suggested Greece may have been the target. On July 6, two days before the axed visit, "the Greek foreign minister had come to demand concessions on migration and maritime (issues) without offering any tangible incentives", Harchaoui said. Despite Haftar's personal involvement, the July 6 visit "had yielded nothing", added the expert. Then, on July 8, "a Greek representative -- this time as part of an EU delegation -- wanted to negotiate on the same day with the rival Tripoli government, placing the two governments on an equal footing", he said. This was "an affront in Benghazi's view", Harchaoui said, and the administration wanted to "punish Athens". - Legitimacy - To Harchaoui, the diplomatic flap was a sign not to "underestimate" the Haftars' foreign policy. "The Haftar family is an absolutely essential actor" in tackling the influx of migrants or, for example, advancing energy projects, due to its key role in securing Libya's eastern coast, said Harchaoui. The message delivered at the Benghazi airport "is clear: take the eastern faction seriously", he added. Harchaoui said that the Haftars, already "rich in cash and strong" in terms of strategic assets, have recently increased efforts to "consolidate their legitimacy". Haftar himself was hosted in February by French President Emmanuel Macron, and in May by Russia's Vladimir Putin. And Haftar's son, Saddam, recently visited the United States, Turkey, Italy and Niger. Even Ankara, which has provided support for the Tripoli-based government in repelling attacks from the east, "is now seeking to further profit off the Haftars through things like construction projects", said Megerisi. He added that Turkey also has wider geopolitical ambitions, hoping to see the Haftars endorse a maritime border agreement in the eastern Mediterranean, which Tripoli had already signed but Athens regards as illegal. bur-iba/ami/smw/jsa/tc
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Libya commander Haftar seeks to force international engagement
TUNIS: Libya's eastern authorities recently expelled a senior European delegation in a move analysts say was meant to send a message: the unrecognized administration backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar cannot be July 8, an EU commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the North African visit was divided in two, as is Libya, which is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Muammar delegation first visited the capital Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognized Libyan government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid then traveled to Benghazi, in the east, where a rival administration backed by Haftar and his clan is based, and with whom the EU has generally avoided direct immediately, a reported disagreement prompted the eastern authorities to accuse the European delegation of a 'flagrant breach of diplomatic norms,' ordering the visiting dignitaries to Brussels, the European Commission admitted a 'protocol issue.'Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the scene at the airport 'was a calculated move.'Haftar was playing to EU fears of irregular migration in order 'to generate de facto European recognition,' and thus 'broaden relations with Europe away from just engagement with him as a local military leader.'Turning the delegation away showed that declining to engage with the eastern civilian administration was no longer an complex situation in Libya has required unusual governments recognize and work with the Tripoli-based government and not the eastern administration, but still hold contact with Haftar's military their visit earlier this month, the European commissioner and ministers were meant to meet with eastern military once at the Benghazi airport, they saw 'there were people there that we had not agreed to meet,' a European official in Brussels told journalists on condition of anonymity.'We had to fly back,' the official said, adding that 'of course' it was linked to recognition of the eastern Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said she did not believe 'it was a premeditated incident.'But 'the question does present itself as to why' ministers from the eastern government were at the airport in the first place, and why Haftar would let it play out the way it did, she said.'We can't completely rule out that there was some particular issue or bilateral disagreement with one of the countries represented in the delegation,' Gazzini expert Jalel Harchaoui suggested Greece may have been the July 6, two days before the axed visit, 'the Greek foreign minister had come to demand concessions on migration and maritime (issues) without offering any tangible incentives,' Harchaoui Haftar's personal involvement, the July 6 visit 'had yielded nothing,' added the on July 8, 'a Greek representative – this time as part of an EU delegation – wanted to negotiate on the same day with the rival Tripoli government, placing the two governments on an equal footing,' he was 'an affront in Benghazi's view,' Harchaoui said, and the administration wanted to 'punish Athens.'To Harchaoui, the diplomatic flap was a sign not to 'underestimate' the Haftars' foreign policy.'The Haftar family is an absolutely essential actor' in tackling the influx of migrants or, for example, advancing energy projects, due to its key role in securing Libya's eastern coast, said message delivered at the Benghazi airport 'is clear: take the eastern faction seriously,' he said that the Haftars, already 'rich in cash and strong' in terms of strategic assets, have recently increased efforts to 'consolidate their legitimacy.'Haftar himself was hosted in February by French President Emmanuel Macron, and in May by Russia's Vladimir Haftar's son, Saddam, recently visited the United States, Turkiye, Italy and Ankara, which has provided support for the Tripoli-based government in repelling attacks from the east, 'is now seeking to further profit off the Haftars through things like construction projects,' said added that Turkiye also has wider geopolitical ambitions, hoping to see the Haftars endorse a maritime border agreement in the eastern Mediterranean, which Tripoli had already signed but Athens regards as illegal.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Woke Americans are fleeing Trump for idyllic liberal paradise. But they're in for a sharp surprise that'll make them regret everything
They're dubbed 'Trumpugees': the growing number of wealthy Americans packing their bags and heading to New Zealand, desperate to get away from what they see as the chaos of a second Donald Trump presidency. But for many, the fantasy of a peaceful, liberal paradise on the edge of the world is fast colliding with reality, and it's not always pretty.
Free Malaysia Today
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Thailand braces for crisis as trials and protests loom
Paetongtarn Shinawatra's government hangs by a thread after her ruling coalition was slashed to a tiny majority. (EPA Images pic) BANGKOK : Thailand's controversial ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra goes on trial for lese-majeste next week with the kingdom teetering on the brink of political chaos, as his daughter faces being sacked as prime minister and activists threaten mass protests. Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy looks set for a new round of the turmoil that has periodically gripped it over the last two decades as conservative forces renew their long-running tussle with the Shinawatra dynasty. The coming weeks will see a series of court hearings that could terminate Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's brief political career and send her 75-year-old billionaire father to jail. Thaksin goes on trial from Tuesday, accused of insulting the monarchy, which under Thailand's strict royal defamation laws could bring a maximum 15-year jail sentence. The allegations stem from an interview he gave in 2015 to a South Korean newspaper, with the trial set to last three weeks. A verdict is not expected for at least a month after that. The lese-majeste laws shield King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from insult or abuse, but critics say the laws are abused to stifle legitimate comment and debate. The drama comes as the tourist-dependent kingdom seeks to reinvigorate its economy while heading off US President Donald Trump's damaging threatened trade tariffs. Thailand is also grappling with a festering border row with Cambodia. Paetongtarn's government hangs by a thread. Its ruling coalition was slashed to a tiny majority by the departure last week of the conservative Bhumjaithai party in a row over a leaked phone call between the prime minister and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. In the audio of the call about the border dispute, Paetongtarn makes disparaging reference to a Thai army commander and addresses Hun Sen as 'uncle'. Critics slammed the 38-year-old for insulting the military – a powerful force in Thai politics – and for being too deferential, calling for her to quit. She apologised last week and managed to shore up her coalition, but now a group of conservative senators has submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court calling for her to be sacked. The court may decide on Tuesday whether to accept the case, but its president, Nakharin Mektrairat, told reporters this week that it would be up to the nine judges to decide the timeframe. If the court accepts the case, it may suspend her from office while it considers it, with a ruling expected to take several months. Paetongtarn's case and her father's trial are the latest round in a bitter 25-year arm wrestle between Thailand's traditional conservative, pro-military, pro-royalist elite and parties linked to Thaksin. Thaksin was twice elected prime minister in the early 2000s and is still loved by many of the rural voters whose lives were changed by his policies. But the establishment has long despised him as corrupt, nepotistic and a threat to the kingdom's long-established social order. Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006, his sister Yingluck Shinawatra suffered the same fate in 2014 and other prime ministers from their political movement have been sacked by court rulings. After 15 years abroad, Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023. He was immediately ordered to serve an eight-year jail term for historic graft and abuse of power charges but was taken to hospital on health grounds and later pardoned by the king. That sequence of events has prompted a separate judicial probe into whether he got special treatment, and Thaksin's regular public appearances seem to have riled his old foes. 'His enemies never disappear – they are still there, while new enemies have emerged and friends become enemies,' Paradorn Pattanatabut, a former secretary-general of the National Security Council, told AFP. In a country which has seen a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, the latest crisis has sparked speculation about another possible military intervention to oust Paetongtarn. Tub-thumping posts on military-affiliated Facebook pages voicing vehement support for the army after Paetongtarn's leaked call have added fuel to the fire. But a security source told AFP that a conventional tanks-in-the-street coup was both difficult and unnecessary, given the potential to stage a 'silent coup' through the courts or other bodies such as the election commission. Wanwichit Boonprong from Rangsit University agreed, saying this kind of 'stealth authoritarianism' was more effective. To add further spice to the mix, on Saturday a group of political activists involved in huge demonstrations that helped sink previous governments has pledged to hold a major rally calling for Paetongtarn to quit.
