عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Libya’s Haftar Rejects Proposal to ‘Demilitarize Sirte’

A member of the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar sits in a tent at one of their sites in west of Sirte, Libya August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
A member of the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar sits in a tent at one of their sites in west of Sirte, Libya August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
TT
20
TT

Libya’s Haftar Rejects Proposal to ‘Demilitarize Sirte’

A member of the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar sits in a tent at one of their sites in west of Sirte, Libya August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
A member of the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Khalifa Haftar sits in a tent at one of their sites in west of Sirte, Libya August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

The Libyan National Army commanded by Khalifa Haftar has rejected a US proposal backed by western parties and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to demilitarize the city of Sirte.

Haftar stressed that the LNA will not hand over the city to the invaders and will not back off.

The Security Chamber of Sirte and Al-Jufra zone that is affiliated with Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA) announced the deployment of commanders to posts near Sirte.

Acting Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL Stephanie Williams met with Head of the High Council of State Khalid Al-Mishri and his accompanying delegation in Geneva. They discussed the current situation in Libya as well as dialogue tracks emanating from the Berlin Conference.

UNSMIL said in a statement that the meeting focused on ways to resume the political track as soon as possible in order to avoid potential deterioration in the military situation. In addition, the two parties discussed the issue of corruption and its devastating impact.

LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari, in a press conference held on Wednesday, refused to establish a demilitarized zone in Sirte, stressing that it was “safe and not a conflict zone.” He explained that the purpose of this proposal is to hand over the city to Turkey without fighting.

Mesmari said that “all weapons are available, all types of forces are available, and radar air cover is now available on all Libyan territories.”

He pointed out that the ports of Tripoli, Misrata, and Khamis have become “the main ports for the invading forces supported by Qatar.”

Regarding the opening of the oil ports, Mesmari announced that Haftar “issued a decision to empty the oil tanks and derivatives located in the oil ports and export them.”

Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) Mustafa Sanallah met Justin Brady, head of Office for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and defended the role of NOC despite the water scarcity in Libya due to the illegal shut down of oil sources.

Sanallah pledged transparency by publishing data and statistics related to output and revenues of oil exports and sales.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
TT
20
TT

Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held high-level talks in Cairo on Monday with Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on regional water security and Egypt’s role in rebuilding war-torn Sudan.

The meeting, held at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, underscored Egypt’s commitment to supporting Sudan amid its ongoing internal conflict, which has ravaged the country since April 2023. Sisi reaffirmed his country’s readiness to contribute to reconstruction efforts and help restore infrastructure destroyed by the civil war.

In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized their continued coordination to preserve the water security of both nations and rejected unilateral measures concerning the Nile River. Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy said the talks also covered broader regional issues, particularly developments in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.

“There is complete alignment between Egypt and Sudan on the strategic importance of shared water resources and the need for regional stability,” al-Shennawy said.

The two sides reiterated their opposition to unilateral actions related to the Blue Nile—Ethiopia’s main tributary for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt and Sudan have long called for a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia on the dam’s operation to safeguard their downstream water rights.

Al-Burhan’s visit came at the invitation of Sisi and follows a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Sisi personally welcomed the Sudanese leader at Cairo Airport before accompanying him to the palace for official reception ceremonies.

Talks included the recent battlefield developments in Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces have reportedly regained control of the capital, Khartoum. Both leaders discussed coordinating efforts to support civilians in conflict zones and advance political and economic integration between the two countries.

In expanded discussions involving ministers and senior officials from both sides, Egypt and Sudan agreed to accelerate joint projects in key sectors such as electricity interconnection, rail infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, industry, mining, and cultural exchange.

Sudan has been mired in civil war since mid-2023, pitting the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has displaced over 14 million people, with more than 1.2 million seeking refuge in Egypt, according to UN figures.

Sisi has consistently called for a ceasefire and stressed the importance of maintaining Sudan’s territorial integrity and institutional stability. He recently condemned plans by the RSF to announce a parallel government in areas under its control, calling the move a direct threat to Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.

Sudanese Ambassador to Cairo Imad-Eddin Adawi hailed the summit as a testament to the “depth and resilience” of Egyptian-Sudanese ties. “There is a shared political will to move forward together,” he said, adding that Egypt plays a pivotal role in mediating regional stability and facilitating dialogue among Sudanese factions.

Hossam Issa, Egypt’s former assistant foreign minister for Sudan, described al-Burhan’s visit as a “milestone” in efforts to end the conflict. “The recent military gains on the ground could pave the way for restoring governance in Khartoum and beginning the process of reconstruction,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.