Libya Talks Make Progress towards New Temporary Government, UN Says

This handout picture distributed by the United Nations Office at Geneva shows Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams.
This handout picture distributed by the United Nations Office at Geneva shows Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams.
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Libya Talks Make Progress towards New Temporary Government, UN Says

This handout picture distributed by the United Nations Office at Geneva shows Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams.
This handout picture distributed by the United Nations Office at Geneva shows Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams.

A Libyan political dialogue arranged by the United Nations has made progress towards agreeing a new transitional government to oversee the run-up to elections in December, the UN said on Saturday.

Participants at talks in Geneva agreed on a mechanism for choosing the new government, whose formation has been the subject of wrangling among the main factions in a country that is a major oil producer.

Acting UN Libya envoy Stephanie Williams said the agreement represented the "best possible compromise" on the issue and could lead to the selection of a transitional government "in several weeks".

However, she also warned that there would still be "people seeking to obstruct" peacemaking efforts.

The talks are part of a wider peace process, after years of chaos and warfare, which also involves a military ceasefire and an economic track.

Libya has been split since 2014 between rival factions in Tripoli, in the west, and Benghazi in the east.

In November, the United Nations invited 75 Libyans to join a political dialogue in Tunis, which set a date of Dec. 24 this year for presidential and parliamentary elections and agreed on the need for a new, unified transitional government.

The transitional government will be responsible for preparing for the elections, combating corruption and restoring public services across Libya, Williams said.

However, November's Tunis meeting stalled when the delegates started discussing the make-up of the new government. Saturday's agreement was made by a smaller committee drawn from the participants.

All 75 members of the dialogue will vote next week on the mechanism the Geneva committee agreed on Saturday.



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). 
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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.