Latest news with #securityreform
Zawya
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Libyan lawmakers, military and security officials discuss strengthening legislative role in national security
Members of the House of Representatives and senior military and security officials gathered in the Tunisian capital this week for a two-day forum aimed at bolstering the role of legislators in shaping Libya's national security legislations. Organized and facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, the event was attended by the Defense and National Security Committee, the Interior Committee, the Legislative Committee, and the Women and Children Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives. The UN Security Sector Reform Standing Capacity also participated. Participants conducted a deep dive into shortcomings in the current legislation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive reforms that reflect Libya's evolving security landscape. Key priorities included strengthening border security and enhancing the legislative authority's capacity to modernize relevant laws. The forum also spotlighted successful national initiatives, such as the development of a code of conduct for military and security personnel, raising the minimum age for recruitment, updating the police law, and intensifying efforts to secure Libya's land borders. These measures were presented as foundational steps toward building more professional, effective, and responsive security and military institutions. On the second day, discussions turned to election security. Participants stressed the importance of updating the legislation pertaining to elections security to ensure a safe and transparent electoral process—regardless of the type of elections. UNSMIL presented categories of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, outlining its risks to electoral integrity. The session underscored the urgent need to update relevant legislation to keep pace with rapid developments in the digital information space. In the context of Libya's ongoing transitional phase, participants and UNSMIL experts reviewed a proposed action plan aimed at strengthening the role of the House of Representatives in security sector reform. The plan calls for the creation of specialized parliamentary sub-committees tasked with reviewing and updating security legislation, in collaboration with national and international experts and under UNSMIL's technical guidance. The plan, which received broad consensus, places citizen protection and human rights at the core of any future security legislation. It also calls for adherence to international standards and a stronger role for civil society in delivering security services. 'This dialogue between key Libyan institutions is a vital step toward strengthening the rule of law and fostering constructive engagement between the executive and legislative branches,' said Badreddine El Harti, Chief of Security Institution Services at UNSMIL. 'It lays the foundation for sustainable peace and long-term state-building.' The next meeting is scheduled for the second half of September, with UNSMIL set to coordinate preparations and mobilize international support to advance the implementation of the action plan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
PMF Sparks Dispute between Washington and Baghdad
The United State has rejected the law on the legalization of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which is aligned with Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on the latest developments in Iraq. A State Department statement said Rubio 'reiterated serious US concerns with the Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) bill currently pending in the Council of Representatives (COR), emphasizing that any such legislation would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty.' Rubio later posted on X: 'We support a prosperous Iraq, free of Iran's pernicious influence.' Rubio also spoke to Sudani about the recent attacks on energy infrastructure, including those operated by US companies. He stressed the importance of the Iraqi government holding the perpetrators accountable and preventing future attacks, added the State Department. The Iraqi government has been investigating the recent attacks in northern Iraq with reports widely suspecting Shiite factions of perpetrating them. Meanwhile, Sudani's press office said Iraq supports efforts to consolidate stability in the region and the sustainability of ceasefire agreements. The PM added that the recent attacks on oil companies 'target Iraq's national economy.' On the PMF, Sudani informed Rubio that legislation is part of 'security reform' efforts adopted by his government. 'The PMF is an official Iraqi military institution that works under the authority of the commander of the armed forces,' read the statement from Sudani's office. The main factions of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework have been pushing for legislations that would enshrine new laws related to the recruitment of PMF fighters. Head of the Center for Political Thinking in Iraq, Dr. Ihssan Shmary told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US has started to focus more on Iraq in recent months in wake of the American strikes on Iran. The telephone call between Rubio and Sudani revealed American reservations over the PMF and armed groups in Iraq, he added. Washington has started to sense that Iran was beginning to consolidate its influence in Iraq through the PMF laws, which led it intervene directly through diplomatic channels, he remarked.
Reuters
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ecuador national assembly passes gang-fighting reforms
QUITO, June 7 (Reuters) - Ecuador's National Assembly on Saturday approved a reform backed by President Daniel Noboa to arm the government with new legal powers to confront armed groups and dismantle the drug-trafficking networks that fuel their criminal enterprises. The bill was backed by 84 of the 141 lawmakers who were present in the legislature. Forty-six lawmakers voted against it, 10 abstained and one turned in a blank vote. Noboa, 37, who began a full four-year term last month, declared an "internal armed conflict" in January 2024 against criminal gangs, just a couple of months after he was first inaugurated as president. Since declaring the campaign against gangs, Noboa has issued emergency decrees, opens new tab to put military boots on the ground alongside police, significantly ramping up security forces. He has also overseen an increase in prison sentences for drug-related crimes and is pursuing closer collaboration with the United States and other nations for intelligence sharing and resources. The new legal framework gives Noboa more freedom to redirect resources toward crime-fighting measures. He will also have the power to pardon police and military personnel for their conduct in security operations. Officers under criminal investigation will also avoid pre-trial detention but will be subject to evaluations every six months, according to the approved text. The reforms as well introduce penalties of up to 30 years for fuel theft, which costs hundreds of millions of dollars for the oil industry. Authorities say this crime, along with illegal mining, has grown in recent years and is a key source of funding for criminal gangs. Assets linked to criminal groups can be directly seized by security forces, a significant shift allowing for more immediate confiscation compared to previous, often lengthy, judicial processes for asset forfeiture. Individuals who lead, belong to, or collaborate with these groups will face prison sentences of up to 30 years. The reforms also include economic incentives for sectors affected by the violence.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ecuador national assembly passes gang-fighting reforms
QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador's National Assembly on Saturday approved a reform backed by President Daniel Noboa to arm the government with new legal powers to confront armed groups and dismantle the drug-trafficking networks that fuel their criminal enterprises. The bill was backed by 84 of the 141 lawmakers who were present in the legislature. Forty-six lawmakers voted against it, 10 abstained and one turned in a blank vote. Noboa, 37, who began a full four-year term last month, declared an "internal armed conflict" in January 2024 against criminal gangs, just a couple of months after he was first inaugurated as president. Since declaring the campaign against gangs, Noboa has issued emergency decrees to put military boots on the ground alongside police, significantly ramping up security forces. He has also overseen an increase in prison sentences for drug-related crimes and is pursuing closer collaboration with the United States and other nations for intelligence sharing and resources. The new legal framework gives Noboa more freedom to redirect resources toward crime-fighting measures. He will also have the power to pardon police and military personnel for their conduct in security operations. Officers under criminal investigation will also avoid pre-trial detention but will be subject to evaluations every six months, according to the approved text. The reforms as well introduce penalties of up to 30 years for fuel theft, which costs hundreds of millions of dollars for the oil industry. Authorities say this crime, along with illegal mining, has grown in recent years and is a key source of funding for criminal gangs. Assets linked to criminal groups can be directly seized by security forces, a significant shift allowing for more immediate confiscation compared to previous, often lengthy, judicial processes for asset forfeiture. Individuals who lead, belong to, or collaborate with these groups will face prison sentences of up to 30 years. The reforms also include economic incentives for sectors affected by the violence.
Al Arabiya
25-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Syria reboots interior ministry as Damascus seeks to reassure the West
Syrian authorities on Saturday announced an interior ministry restructuring that includes fighting cross-border drug and people smuggling as they seek to improve ties with Western nations that have lifted sanctions. Keen to reboot and rebuild nearly 14 years after a devastating civil war broke out, the new authorities in Damascus have hailed Washington's lifting of US sanctions. The move was formalized Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said the interior ministry restructure included reforms and creating 'a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human rights standards.' It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference. A border security body for Syria's land and sea frontiers will be tasked with 'combating illegal activities, particularly drug and human smuggling networks,' al-Baba said. The restructure includes 'strengthening the role of the anti-drug department and further developing its importance within Syria and abroad' after the country became a major exporter of illicit stimulant captagon, he added. Another department will handle security for government facilities and foreign missions, as embassies reopen in Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December. A tourism police body will secure visitors and sites as the war-torn country -- home to renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites -- seeks to relaunch tourism. 'Of critical importance' Syria's foreign ministry welcomed Washington's lifting of sanctions, calling the move 'a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country.' Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said the recent US and European Union steps to lift sanctions were 'of critical importance in efforts to bring stability and security to Syria.' The European Union announced the lifting of its economic sanctions on Syria earlier this month. Al-Sharaa met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday on his third visit to Turkey since taking power on a visit to discuss 'common issues,' Syria's presidency said. Ankara is a major backer of Syria's new authorities, who are negotiating with Kurdish forces that control swathes of the northeast and that Turkey considers 'terrorists.' A government delegation made a first visit Saturday to the notorious Al-Hol camp in the northeast that hosts families of suspected ISIS extremists. Trump said he wanted to give Syria's new rulers 'a chance at greatness' after their overthrow of al-Assad. While in Istanbul, al-Sharaa met with the US ambassador to Turkey, who doubles as Washington's Syria envoy. In a statement, Tom Barrack said: 'President Trump's goal is to enable the new government to create the conditions for the Syrian people to not only survive but thrive.' He added that it would aid Washington's 'primary objective' of ensuring the 'enduring defeat' of ISIS. US sanctions were first imposed on Syria in 1979 under the rule of Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. They were sharply expanded after the bloody repression of anti-government protests in 2011 triggered Syria's civil war. The new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments expressed reluctance, pointing to the extremist past of leading figures. 'Recovery and reconstruction' The sanctions relief extends to the new government on condition that Syria does not provide safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensure security for religious and ethnic minorities, the US Treasury Department said. Concurrently, the US State Department issued a 180-day waiver for the Caesar Act to make sure that sanctions do not obstruct foreign investment in Syria. The 2020 legislation severely sanctioned any entity or company cooperating with the now ousted government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver would 'facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation, and enable a more effective humanitarian response across Syria.' However, Rubio cautioned that Trump 'has made clear his expectation that relief will be followed by prompt action by the Syrian government on important policy priorities.' He said lifting the sanctions aims to promote 'recovery and reconstruction efforts.' Syria's 14-year civil war killed more than half a million people and ravaged its infrastructure. The interior ministry's spokesman said around a third of the population had been under suspicion by the al-Assad government's feared intelligence and security services. Analysts say a full lifting of sanctions may take time, as some US restrictions are acts that need to be reversed by Congress. Syrian authorities also need to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investment.
