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Libya's Presidency Council Suspends Foreign Minister, Govt Rejects Decision

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya, October 21, 2021. (Reuters)
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya, October 21, 2021. (Reuters)
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Libya's Presidency Council Suspends Foreign Minister, Govt Rejects Decision

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya, October 21, 2021. (Reuters)
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush attends a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Libya Stabilization Conference, in Tripoli, Libya, October 21, 2021. (Reuters)

Libya's Presidency Council has suspended Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush for "administrative violations" and barred her from traveling, its spokesperson said on Saturday.

The spokesperson, Najwa Wahiba, confirmed the authenticity of a document circulating on social media ordering Mangoush's suspension for carrying out foreign policy without coordination with the council.

Libya's transitional Government of National Unity issued a statement early on Sunday rejecting the council's decision and lauding the minister's efforts, saying she would carry her duties normally.

The statement, issued on the government's Facebook page, said that the Presidency Council has "no legal right to appoint or cancel the appointment of members of the executive authority, suspend them or investigate them." It added that these powers are exclusive to the prime minister.

The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, a UN-selected assembly that set a roadmap for peace in Libya, chose a three-man Presidency Council headed by Mohamed Menfi until election are held.

Disagreement over the council's suspension of the foreign minister is likely to increase tensions between Libya's rival factions as they try to work together after years of conflict.

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Sudan Launches Talks for a Comprehensive Political Process

A child stands between two women at a school turned into a shelter, in Port Sudan, Sudan, August 29, 2024. (Reuters)
A child stands between two women at a school turned into a shelter, in Port Sudan, Sudan, August 29, 2024. (Reuters)
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Sudan Launches Talks for a Comprehensive Political Process

A child stands between two women at a school turned into a shelter, in Port Sudan, Sudan, August 29, 2024. (Reuters)
A child stands between two women at a school turned into a shelter, in Port Sudan, Sudan, August 29, 2024. (Reuters)

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Mohamed said on Thursday that consultations have begun to launch an inclusive political process aimed at forming a technocratic government to lead the country through the transitional period, with a focus on reconstruction.

Youssef met with the European Union's envoy to the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, in the interim administrative capital, Port Sudan, to discuss the EU institutions’ readiness to cooperate with Sudan in efforts to achieve stability and development.

He welcomed the EU’s statement rejecting the formation of a parallel government in Sudan. He also provided an update on the military situation and the government's efforts to end the war.

Weber reaffirmed the bloc’s full support for an inclusive political process in Sudan without exclusion or discrimination. She stressed the EU’s commitment to security and stability in Sudan, describing it as a key country in the Horn of Africa.

The African Union on Wednesday voiced "deep concern" over efforts by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies to form a parallel government in Sudan, warning that the move could lead to the country’s "massive fragmentation" after nearly two years of war.

Last month, the RSF and its allies signed a founding charter in Nairobi, declaring their intention to establish a "peace and unity government" in areas under their control.

They also pledged to build a decentralized, democratic civilian state based on freedom, equality, and justice, without cultural, ethnic, religious, or regional discrimination. Earlier this month, the same parties signed a transitional constitution.

The African Union urged its member states and the international community not to recognize any parallel government or entity seeking to divide Sudan or govern parts of its territory.

The European Union echoed this stance on Tuesday, warning that a rival government would threaten Sudan’s democratic aspirations, in line with a statement issued by the United Nations Security Council last week.