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Libyan Governments Diverge on Detained Nationals in South Africa

A photo released by South African authorities shows several Libyan detainees (AP)
A photo released by South African authorities shows several Libyan detainees (AP)
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Libyan Governments Diverge on Detained Nationals in South Africa

A photo released by South African authorities shows several Libyan detainees (AP)
A photo released by South African authorities shows several Libyan detainees (AP)

The power struggle in Libya has impacted the situation of Libyan detainees in South Africa, which announced on Saturday that it had canceled the visas of 95 Libyan nationals detained a day earlier at a suspected “secret military camp” in White River, a holiday town in the northeastern Mpumalanga province.

The interim Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, denied any link to the group arrested there. Meanwhile, the National Stability Government, led by Osama Hammad, promised to provide legal support to the detainees.

Dbeibeh’s government has asked the military prosecutor and the Libyan embassy in South Africa to contact the authorities in Johannesburg for more information about the case.

It also expressed willingness to participate in the investigation, ensure the detainees’ safety, and make sure they are treated according to international agreements.

The Government of National Unity also condemned any actions that could threaten the peace, security, or sovereignty of neighboring or friendly countries.

It emphasized that Libya has moved beyond such cross-border activities, which have previously harmed the country’s security and stability. The government also criticized the involvement of Libyan citizens in these incidents.

Meanwhile, the National Stability Government, represented by its acting Foreign Minister Abdel Hadi Al-Hweij, announced plans to provide legal support for the Libyan detainees abroad.

In a televised statement on Friday, Al-Hweij said he is closely monitoring the situation of the detained Libyans.

He emphasized that his ministry aims to ensure the detainees receive legal assistance and that their detention conditions are appropriate, protecting their rights and ensuring fair legal procedures are followed.

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Syria Extends the Deadline for a Probe into Coastal Unrest

A man takes a picture with his mobile phone as people gather to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the chemical attack for the first time after the fall of the Assad government in the town of Douma, in the eastern Ghouta region, near the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP)
A man takes a picture with his mobile phone as people gather to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the chemical attack for the first time after the fall of the Assad government in the town of Douma, in the eastern Ghouta region, near the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP)
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Syria Extends the Deadline for a Probe into Coastal Unrest

A man takes a picture with his mobile phone as people gather to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the chemical attack for the first time after the fall of the Assad government in the town of Douma, in the eastern Ghouta region, near the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP)
A man takes a picture with his mobile phone as people gather to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the chemical attack for the first time after the fall of the Assad government in the town of Douma, in the eastern Ghouta region, near the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP)

Syria’s presidency announced on Friday that it would extend a probe into the killings of Alawite civilians in coastal areas that left scores dead after clashes between government forces and armed groups loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks.

The violence erupted on March 6 after Assad loyalists ambushed patrols of the new government, prompting armed groups to launch coordinated assaults on Latakia, Baniyas, and other coastal areas.

The violence brought fear of a renewed civil war and threatened to open an endless cycle of vengeance, driving thousands of Alawites to flee their homes, with an estimated 30,000 seeking refuge in northern Lebanon.

On March 9, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa formed a fact-finding committee and gave it 30 days to report its findings and identify perpetrators. In a decree published late Thursday, Sharaa said the committee had requested more time and was granted a three-month non-renewable extension.

The committee’s spokesperson, Yasser Farhan, said in a statement on Friday that the committee has recorded 41 sites where killings took place, each forming the basis for a separate case and requiring more time to gather evidence. He said some areas remained inaccessible due to time constraints, but that residents had cooperated, despite threats from pro-Assad remnants.

In a report published on April 3, Amnesty International said its probe into the killings concluded that at least 32 of more than 100 people killed in the town of Baniyas were deliberately targeted on sectarian grounds — a potential war crime.

The rights organization welcomed the committee’s formation but stressed it must be independent, properly resourced, and granted full access to burial sites and witnesses to conduct a credible investigation. It also said the committee should be granted “adequate time to complete the investigation.”