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Turkey: Holding Elections Most Important Way Ensure Libya’s Unity

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (Reuters)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (Reuters)
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Turkey: Holding Elections Most Important Way Ensure Libya’s Unity

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (Reuters)
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (Reuters)

Turkey described on Friday the situation in Libya as "very critical", saying that holding elections is one of the most important ways to guarantee its unity.

At the same time, it demanded that discussions about the legitimacy of its Government of National Unity (GNU) be dropped until the elections are held.

Ankara expressed its ongoing support to the GNU, headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu remarked that the West had set a date to hold the elections as soon as possible, but the Libyans said that the conditions in the country were not yet suitable to stage them. As a result, the polls were postponed.

The elections were supposed to be held on December 24, but political disagreements led to their postponement.

Meanwhile, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told the Anadolu Agency on Friday that his country has supported the political process in Libya from the very beginning to the end, and that Ankara will continue to support it from now on.

“Elections were one of the steps and stages of this political process. We made the necessary suggestions for it to be held, but the Libyans decided to postpone the elections with an agreement among themselves since the conditions were not suitable there,” he said.

Kalin said the Maritime Boundary Treaty and the Military Cooperation and Training Agreement signed between Ankara and Tripoli in 2019 remain valid.

“Even if there are objections from some groups in Libya or some countries in the region, Libyans have a very clear and unequivocal stance on this issue,” he stressed.

The spokesperson noted that his country will continue to stand by the Libyan people and the legitimate government, both in terms of security, supporting the political process, and rebuilding Libya, and strengthening its infrastructure.

He said there is an ongoing political negotiation process among the Libyans on how long the elections will be postponed and who will manage this process.

“We hope that this new political process is announced to everyone with a new date and a transparent roadmap as soon as possible without causing any tension or conflict,” Kalin stressed, adding that Ankara will continue to stand by the Libyans as a supportive and facilitating actor in the process led by the Libyans, whenever they will be held, and in whatever way, they will be planned.

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Sudan’s Burhan Vows to Forge ahead in Defeating RSF

Head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (R) during a visit to Musawwarat. (Facebook)
Head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (R) during a visit to Musawwarat. (Facebook)
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Sudan’s Burhan Vows to Forge ahead in Defeating RSF

Head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (R) during a visit to Musawwarat. (Facebook)
Head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (R) during a visit to Musawwarat. (Facebook)

Head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared on Thursday that there can be no reconciliation with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“We are forging ahead with the battle for dignity to defeat this rebellion. We will not betray the sacrifices of our sons and brothers, who gave their lives in defending their country,” he said during a visit to the Naqa and Musawwarat region in the Nile River state on the occasion of the 71st Army Day.

He hailed the Sudanese people who have stood by the armed forces, especially in the regions of El-Fasher, Babanusa and Kadugli, as well as all the forces that are defending and protecting the people.

On the same occasion, Prime Minister Kamil Idris said the armed forces have made several sacrifices in defending Sudan’s sovereignty.

“The country is waging a fateful war” against the RSF in order to preserve its unity and independence, he stressed.

The country is facing a fierce attack that is threatening the state, which demands internal unity and solidarity with the armed forces, he went on to say.

Meanwhile, reactions continued to pour in over the United Nations Security Council’s strong rejection of the establishment of a parallel government in areas held by the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The Foreign Ministry welcomed the statement, saying the Sudanese government remains committed to preserving the sovereignty, safety, security, stability and unity of the country.

It said it was ready to work with the international community in line with rules and norms that serve the interests of the people.

The Security Council on Wednesday rejected plans by the RSF to establish a rival government in areas it controls, warning that the move threatens the country’s territorial integrity and risks further exacerbating the ongoing civil war.

The strongly worded statement “unequivocally reaffirmed” its unwavering commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and unity.

Any steps to undermine these principles “threaten not only the future of Sudan but also the peace and stability of the broader region,” the statement said.

The 15-member council said the announcement by the RSF also risks “fragmenting the country and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.”

Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other regions, including western Darfur. Some 40,000 people have been killed, nearly 13 million displaced and many pushed to the brink of famine, UN agencies say.

The RSF and their allies announced in late June that they had formed a parallel government in areas the group controls, mainly in the vast Darfur region where allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity are being investigated.