Bushnaf: The Success of UN Initiative in Libya Depends on Int’l Support

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Bushnaf: The Success of UN Initiative in Libya Depends on Int’l Support

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf has linked the success of the advisory committee, formed under the UN initiative to resolve the country’s political crisis and pave the way for long-delayed elections, to the level of international support it receives in countering resistance from certain local factions.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Bushnaf said the committee’s effectiveness depends on various regional developments, emphasizing the influence of recent events.
He praised the 20 committee members selected by the UN mission to propose solutions to disputes over electoral laws, describing them as independent of the conflict’s rival factions and highlighting their academic and professional backgrounds.
Bushnaf also discussed several key issues, including irregular migration, fears of resettlement, and the international community’s stance on Libya. He argued that global powers are still “managing the crisis rather than fully engaging in a solution.”
Citing the United States as an example, he described Washington’s involvement in addressing Libya’s political deadlock as "limited, perhaps entirely left to its special envoy and acting ambassador."
He added that the international community, which intervened to help overthrow the previous regime and allowed marginal states to gain significant influence in Libya’s affairs, must now make a concerted effort to end the ongoing conflict.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments: the Tripoli-based interim Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a parliament-appointed administration headed by Osama Hammad, which controls the east and parts of the south.
As part of efforts to monitor the impact of regional developments on Libya’s security, Bushnaf dismissed reports of Russian weapons being transferred from Syria to Libya as “mere speculation.”
He pointed to Moscow’s official statement that it had begun talks with Syria’s new leadership on renewing agreements for its military bases there.
Bushnaf also addressed a proposal by Libyan Presidential Council member Moussa Al-Koni to revert to a three-region system as a way to break the political deadlock and end the country’s division.
He noted that while government positions are already distributed based on regional quotas, “this remains an individual viewpoint that has not gained widespread public support.”
Reaffirming the National Security Council’s stance, Bushnaf stressed that Libya “has always been and will remain a unified state,” emphasizing the need for a lasting political solution rather than temporary stabilization efforts.



Kabbashi: Sudan War Nearing End, Arms Proliferation Poses Major Threat

Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
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Kabbashi: Sudan War Nearing End, Arms Proliferation Poses Major Threat

Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)

The war in Sudan is nearing its end, a top military official said on Saturday, warning that the widespread availability of weapons could pose one of the biggest threats to the country’s stability in the post-war period.
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, told state governors in the temporary capital of Port Sudan that arms proliferation is a “major danger awaiting the state.”
“The areas that have been retaken must be handed over to the police for administration,” Kabbashi said, stressing that civilian policing, not military control, should take over in recaptured territories.
He also pointed to the need to redeploy troops currently stationed at checkpoints and security outposts in liberated regions. “We need these forces on other frontlines,” he said.
Kabbashi described the rise in hate speech triggered by the conflict as “unacceptable” and warned that Sudan would face deep social challenges once the fighting stops.
According to Kabbashi, the Sudanese armed forces are in a strong position after initial setbacks at the start of the war, as the military seeks to shift focus to restoring internal security and supporting civil governance in liberated areas.
“The situation of the armed forces and supporting units is more than good,” said Kabbashi. “We were in a bad place at the beginning of the war — now we are more than fine.”
Kabbashi added that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is highly focused on ensuring public safety across the country, calling security “a top priority, ahead of all other services.”
He warned, however, that Sudan faces deeper challenges beyond the battlefield. “The plot against Sudan is bigger than the militia we’re fighting — they are only the front,” Kabbashi said, referring to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) without naming them directly.
He pointed to rising crime, widespread weapons, and looting as major security threats that emerged during the war, saying state authorities would have a significant role to play in restoring order.
Kabbashi urged state governors to back police forces in their efforts to maintain law and order, emphasizing that police support is “urgently needed” during the current transitional phase.