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Turkey Affirms Continuous Support to GNA Despite Sarraj's Resignation Plan

Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj speaks during a televised speech in Tripoli, Libya September 16, 2020, in this still image taken from a video. The Media Office of the Prime Minister/Handout via REUTERS
Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj speaks during a televised speech in Tripoli, Libya September 16, 2020, in this still image taken from a video. The Media Office of the Prime Minister/Handout via REUTERS
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Turkey Affirms Continuous Support to GNA Despite Sarraj's Resignation Plan

Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj speaks during a televised speech in Tripoli, Libya September 16, 2020, in this still image taken from a video. The Media Office of the Prime Minister/Handout via REUTERS
Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj speaks during a televised speech in Tripoli, Libya September 16, 2020, in this still image taken from a video. The Media Office of the Prime Minister/Handout via REUTERS

Turkey has expressed its intention to continue to support Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), despite an earlier announcement that Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj plans to resign by the end of next month.

Turkey’s agreements and cooperation with Libya’s GNA will continue despite Sarraj’s desire to quit, Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was quoted as saying on Monday.

"These accords will not be impacted by this political period because these are decisions made by the government, not by any individual," Kalin said.

Turkish officials may travel to Tripoli "in the coming days" to discuss developments, he added.

Turkey and the GNA signed on Nov. 27 two memorandums of understanding on determining both countries' marine jurisdictions and on security and military cooperation.

President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was upset by Sarraj's announcement that he planned to quit, but Kalin asserted Turkish support for the GNA and their bilateral agreements.

In a related context, the GNA declared a ceasefire last month and called for the lifting of a months-long blockade on oil output. The leader of the parliament in eastern Libya also appealed for a halt to hostilities, offering hope for a de-escalation of the conflict across Libya since a 2011 uprising.

Libya's eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar said on Friday he would lift for one month his blockade on oil outputs and that he had agreed with the GNA on "fair distribution" of energy revenue.

For its part, Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has lifted a force majeure on what it deemed secure oil ports and facilities, but said the measure would remain in place for facilities where armed groups remain.

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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.