‘Constructive’ UN-British Meeting on Libya

Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams with the United Kingdom Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday, July 31, 2020 (UNSMIL)
Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams with the United Kingdom Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday, July 31, 2020 (UNSMIL)
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‘Constructive’ UN-British Meeting on Libya

Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams with the United Kingdom Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday, July 31, 2020 (UNSMIL)
Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams with the United Kingdom Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday, July 31, 2020 (UNSMIL)

The Libyan crisis has cast a shadow over the official greetings of diplomatic organizations and missions operating in Libya on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

All have expressed hope that security and peace would prevail in the country and that the Eid would be an opportunity to “end the fighting among Libyans.”

Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams met with the UK Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, on Friday to discuss the Libyan crisis.

She said this occasion is an opportunity to end the fighting between rival parties, hoping that “love, tolerance and unity would prevail among Libyan people.”

According to a UNSMIL statement, the meeting was “very constructive.”

Williams expressed her appreciation to “UK’s continuous support to UN efforts to bring an end to Libya’s crisis through an inclusive political solution.”

Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Libya Alan Bugeja affirmed the EU’s continuous work with its partners to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Libya and resume the political process necessary for the country to move towards peace and reconciliation.

He also greeted Libyans on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, wishing peace would prevail.

“We sympathize with the innocent people who are victims of the ongoing conflict and instability that has hit the country over the past decade.”

In other news, figures from the internationally-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) resumed efforts to maintain the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat in 2015.

The GNA and all its supporters in western Libya adhere to the agreement as a “single and basic reference” for resolving the political dispute, unlike authorities in eastern Libya, where Libyan National Army commander Marshal Khalifa Haftar has recently announced the deal dead.

A GNA politician has defended the agreement.

“We will focus on introducing some amendments to the agreement in line with the political situation in the country and away from any initiative that aims to undermine the country's legitimate authority,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, in reference to the GNA.

His remarks were in light of the recent talks held in Morocco between Speaker of the east-based Libyan parliament Aguila Saleh and Head of the High Council of State Chief Khalid al-Mishri on amending the Skhirat agreement.

According to the official, Saleh didn’t comment negatively on the agreement, but rather on its implementation.



Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
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Islamist Leader in Sudan’s Former Ruling Party Eyes Power After War

Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)
Ahmed Haroun, chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), which ruled during the presidency of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. (Reuters)

A senior figure in Sudan’s dissolved ruling party has revealed that the country’s Islamist movement is preparing for a return to power once the ongoing conflict ends, even if it means supporting prolonged military rule in the interim.

The remarks, made by Ahmed Haroun, former head of the National Congress Party and one of four Sudanese figures wanted by the International Criminal Court, reflect growing confidence among Islamists following their military involvement in the war.

The war, now in its third year, pits Sudan’s army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has triggered massive displacement, famine, and ethnic violence. Despite the RSF holding strategic ground in Darfur and parts of southern Sudan, the army has recently gained momentum on multiple fronts.

Islamist factions claim credit for assisting in these advances, contributing fighters and logistical support.

According to military and government sources, the Islamist movement has been increasingly visible on the battlefield.

These networks, dismantled following the 2019 uprising that ousted Omar al-Bashir, have resurfaced amid the chaos of war.

A leaked party document reviewed by Reuters outlines the movement’s growing role, stating that between 2,000 and 3,000 Islamist fighters were mobilized in the conflict’s first year, with over 70,000 civilians trained for combat under the army’s call for general mobilization.

While military leadership has downplayed connections to political factions, army sources and Islamists alike acknowledge that coordination exists, particularly within elite units where Islamist-trained operatives are embedded. Islamist forces have reportedly reinforced dwindling army ranks, especially in key battles around the capital, Khartoum.

Ahmed Haroun, who escaped from prison at the onset of the conflict, proposed a governance model that preserves military control over national sovereignty and security, with a civilian prime minister emerging from future elections.

He insisted that Islamists will only return through elections, not via transitional arrangements, and argued that Sudan needs a tailored political model that accommodates military involvement due to ongoing security threats and foreign interference.

While denying the scale of Islamist involvement described in the leaked documents, Haroun admitted that supporting the army was part of a broader strategy in response to the national call for mobilization.

Military sources estimate that at least 5,000 fighters directly linked to the former ruling party are active, with many serving in specialized units or intelligence services.

Despite these developments, Haroun and other Islamist figures maintain that they do not wield authority over the army. Still, their growing influence on the battlefield and political landscape has sparked renewed concerns about the possible resurgence of Sudan’s old guard in the post-war order.