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Libyan Army: Military Intervention Warning Remains in Place

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. Reuters
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. Reuters
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Libyan Army: Military Intervention Warning Remains in Place

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. Reuters
Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. Reuters

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya welcomed the House of Representatives’ decision to accept the consensual formula to amend the political agreement signed by different Libyan factions in 2015.

In the meantime, a warning made by National Army Commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar to intervene militarily in case negotiations fail remains in place.

Spokesman for the Libyan National Army Brigadier Ahmad al-Mesmari told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the deadline set by Haftar has not passed," but he refused to give further details.

In a press conference held in Benghazi, Mesmari revealed that officers and military commanders who have met recently in Cairo, have reached an agreement that the head of state would be the "supreme commander of the armed forces.”

In this context, the UNSMIL media office explained that it had submitted the latest version to the House of Representatives and the Council of State, based on the deliberations of the Joint Drafting Committee in Tunisia.

The parliament voted overwhelmingly during Tuesday’s session to approve the unified formula for the amendment of the political agreement presented by UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame.

Salame submitted a proposal to give the title of supreme commander of the army to the new head of the executive authority.

Mesmari explained that this deal is the result of previous talks among military commanders, revealing the arrangements for a fourth meeting among army officers in the Egyptian capital, but he did not specify its date.

“The people have been suffering from the paralyzed institutions, and the military institution will unite for the benefit of the homeland, and no party should be held accountable for the failure of the intervention of the army in the political dialogue,” said Mesmari.

The unified formula approved by the Libyan parliament includes 12 clauses on the amendment of some points of the Skhirat Agreement concerning executive power, which will consist of the Presidential Council and the Council of Ministers.

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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
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UNHCR Praises Saudi Support Amid Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food aid in the city of Umm Rawaba, North Kordofan State, Sudan (SPA)

A senior United Nations official has described the ongoing crisis in Sudan as one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, yet also among the least funded. Less than 18 percent of the $1.8 billion needed to support relief operations in 2025 has been secured.

Mamadou Dian Balde, Regional Director of the UNHCR for East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, and the agency’s regional refugee coordinator for Sudan, stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia’s continued support.

He noted that the Kingdom’s contribution remains vital to maintaining life-saving aid, especially at a time when global humanitarian funding is shrinking.

During a recent visit to Riyadh, Balde met with key Saudi officials to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with UNHCR. His discussions focused on supporting over 27 million refugees and displaced individuals across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and surrounding regions.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s partnership, both through direct aid and international collaboration, has played a crucial role in sustaining relief efforts in the face of the largest displacement crisis worldwide.

Balde’s visit included meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), the Saudi Fund for Development, and Islamic development institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development. He also consulted with humanitarian and religious organizations like the Muslim World League and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.

In Sudan, despite limited resources, UNHCR continues to deliver core services such as refugee registration, relocation to safer areas, and distribution of emergency supplies. This includes shelter kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and kitchen essentials, as well as medical supplies and support for survivors of gender-based violence and unaccompanied children.

Balde highlighted the scale of the crisis, pointing to nearly 13 million Sudanese who have been displaced in just two years, with 4 million fleeing across borders. He warned that displacement is accelerating, citing the arrival of approximately 2,000 new refugees daily in Chad due to recent violence in North Darfur.

With only 11 percent of the regional response plan for Sudan funded, humanitarian actors face difficult choices, often unable to reach all those in need.

Looking ahead, UNHCR’s strategy combines emergency relief with long-term development.

Balde stressed the need to integrate refugees into national systems, improve host community services, and avoid parallel aid structures, Balde told Asharq Al-Awsat.

For 2025, the agency and its partners require $1.8 billion to assist 4.8 million people, including refugees, returnees, and local communities across the region.