Libya, Sudan, Chad Agree to Secure Borders

Libyan Delegation discussing with Chadian delegation border security (Presidential Council)
Libyan Delegation discussing with Chadian delegation border security (Presidential Council)
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Libya, Sudan, Chad Agree to Secure Borders

Libyan Delegation discussing with Chadian delegation border security (Presidential Council)
Libyan Delegation discussing with Chadian delegation border security (Presidential Council)

Libya, Sudan, and Chad agreed to exert more efforts to secure their borders to prevent the spread of crimes and curb illegal immigration.

Deputy Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mossa al-Koni announced after an African tour, which included Sudan and Chad, that he discussed with senior officials all issues relating to joint borders.

Koni noted that Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, along with the ministers and officials, expressed their desire to resolve illegal immigration, border security, and fight armed groups that violate Sudanese and Libyan laws.

In a press conference held Thursday upon his arrival in Tripoli, he said that the countries agreed to draw a practical road map to curb security breaches and criminal actions.

Koni touched on his discussions with Commander of the Chadian Military Council Mohammed Idriss Deby, which addressed the infiltration of Chadian rebels into Libyan territory.

They agreed on the necessity of removing the Chadian armed factions from Libyan territory, reported Libyan News Agency (LANA).

Koni confirmed that he had discussed with the Chadian side returning the General Secretariat of Community of Sahel–the Saharan States to Tripoli.

Deby suggested reviving the quadripartite agreement by forming a joint military force on the border with Libya to prevent the incursion of rebel groups.

A quartet agreement, signed by Libya, Chad, Niger, and Sudan in May 2018, stipulates the deployment of forces to secure the joint border and combat cross-border crimes and illegal immigration.



Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
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Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)

A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed jail terms of 12 to 35 years on high-profile politicians, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former security officials, a move that critics say underscores the president's use of the judiciary to cement “authoritarian rule”.

Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against the state in the major mass trial, were Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Kais Saied, local radio Mosaique FM said. Akacha who fled abroad received 35 years.

Ghannouchi, 84, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, was handed a 14-year term.

Ghannouchi who was the speaker of the elected parliament dissolved by Saied, has been in prison since 2023, receiving three sentences of a total of 27 years in separate cases in recent months.

A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country.

The court sentenced former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani to 35 years, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem to 35 years, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of Rached Ghannouchi, to 35 years. All three have fled the country.

Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, then dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move that opposition called a coup which undermined the nascent democracy that sparked in 2011 the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings.

Saied rejects the accusations and says his steps are legal and aim to end years of chaos and corruption hidden within the political elite.

Most opposition leaders, some journalists, and critics of Saied have been imprisoned since he seized control of most powers in 2021.

This year, a court handed jail terms of 5 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring as well, a case the opposition says is fabricated in an attempt to stamp out opposition to the president.