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Arab League Calls for Diplomacy, Dialogue Over Ukraine Crisis

Arab League Assistant Sec-Gen, Hossam Zaki speaking at the urgent meeting over Ukraine (Arab League)
Arab League Assistant Sec-Gen, Hossam Zaki speaking at the urgent meeting over Ukraine (Arab League)
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Arab League Calls for Diplomacy, Dialogue Over Ukraine Crisis

Arab League Assistant Sec-Gen, Hossam Zaki speaking at the urgent meeting over Ukraine (Arab League)
Arab League Assistant Sec-Gen, Hossam Zaki speaking at the urgent meeting over Ukraine (Arab League)

The Arab League said it was following the developments in Ukraine with "great concern," calling for support for all efforts to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.

The League, which held an emergency meeting on Monday at Egypt's request, said it supports "all efforts aimed at resolving the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy in a manner that preserves the security and safety of peoples in this important region of the world."

The meeting, chaired by Kuwait, stressed "the importance of respecting the principles of international law and the UN Charter," calling for supporting efforts to ease tensions.

The AL expressed concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, stressing the importance of continued cooperation and coordination among Arab countries to maintain the security and safety of the Arab communities in the region and facilitate the conditions for those wishing to leave to neighboring countries.

The League also stressed the need to maintain the "security and safety of members of Arab diplomatic missions."

The League recommended forming an Arab group at the ministerial level to follow up and conduct the necessary consultations with the concerned parties seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

During the meeting, the organization reviewed the developments of the situation and its effects on international peace and security and its direct impact on the Arab countries.

During his speech at the opening of the meeting, the Assistant Sec-Gen, Hossam Zaki, affirmed that the General Secretariat is following with great concern the developments in Ukraine and its severe military and humanitarian consequences.

Zaki reiterated it was necessary to intensify work to reach arrangements that satisfy everyone without resorting to military forces, warning that wars have their unfortunate high costs.

"We believe all peace-loving countries and organizations must move quickly to stop the escalation and not fuel it, restore dialogue, and seek to settle the crisis through indispensable diplomacy to avoid deterioration of the situation and expansion of the conflict."

Zaki noted that being in the Arab region "may make us, more than others, aware of the devastating effects of wars and the use of military force and its consequences, especially the extremely negative humanitarian consequences."

The official called for engaging in international action to end the current political and diplomatic crisis, which is the best way to address the situation and restore stability and achieve security for all.

"We hope, under these dangerous circumstances, that each party will bear its responsibility and that all efforts will be focused on sparing civilians from the consequences of the deteriorating security situation," said the assistant.

He emphasized the need for everyone to respect international humanitarian law and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who need it, especially in light of Ukrainian refugees continuing to arrive in neighboring countries.

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Arab World

The Quad Supports Sudan’s Legitimate State Institutions as Khartoum Rejects US Position

The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan. SPA
The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan. SPA
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The Quad Supports Sudan’s Legitimate State Institutions as Khartoum Rejects US Position

The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan. SPA
The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan. SPA

Sudan has entered a new phase marked by war and intense diplomatic and political maneuvering. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, and Pakistan are maintaining their support for the country's legitimate state institutions while rejecting parallel entities. Khartoum has also rejected the US position on legitimacy in the conflict.

The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye and Pakistan have “reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan, and stressed the importance of preserving its legitimate national institutions, and rejecting any parallel entities that undermine Sudan's sovereignty and unity.”

The ministers met in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“They stressed the necessity of halting the illicit flow of weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters into Sudanese territory,” a joint statement said.

“The Ministers also agreed to maintain close coordination and continue consultations on regional and international developments, to strengthen collective security and promote long-term regional stability,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Sudan on Wednesday said it "upholds its national sovereignty" and called on Washington to engage positively with the country's government, pushing back on remarks by the US State Department calling into question its legitimacy.

The US withheld a visa for Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of his scheduled visit to New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, reportedly making his attendance contingent on his agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire.

Sudan's war, which erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the military and the Rapid ⁠Support Forces, has displaced ⁠more than 14 million people and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement on Tuesday that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces nor either of their respective leaders "represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan."

In a statement on Wednesday, ⁠the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it strongly rejected the statement and called on Washington to engage positively with the Sudanese government.

"The government of Sudan emphasizes that any peace initiative intended to succeed and endure must be grounded in respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and legitimate national institutions," the statement said.

"It must also address the root causes of the war's continuation — foremost among them, negative foreign interference."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday described trying to mediate an ⁠end to ⁠the conflict in Sudan as frustrating.

"We’ve had people agree to things, sign to things, and the commitments are never met," he told reporters in New York. "Every time it seems like we’re on the verge of making progress, one side or the other will back off because they think they’re winning or they think they could win. And there are external actors."

The dispute, first reported by Reuters, threatens to deepen tensions between Washington and Sudan's army at a critical moment in the civil war, which the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

A senior Sudanese source said Burhan had postponed his trip to New York but had yet to receive official notice that the visa had been denied.

"We in the Sudanese government express our deep regret because this is a violation of the UN Convention and international law," the source said.

"Sudan's government affirms its stance towards peace."

Sudan's UN ambassador appealed to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intervene, arguing in a letter that preventing Burhan from attending the General Assembly would violate the UN's obligations toward member states.

In a statement sent to Reuters, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the secretary-general is "deeply concerned that a visa has reportedly not yet been issued to the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of the Sudan," adding that he is engaging with the US on the issue.

US officials have made Burhan's attendance contingent on his agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire proposed by US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos, according to a Sudanese diplomatic ⁠source and a ⁠Western analyst close to American and Sudanese officials.

In a piece in US outlet Foreign Policy published on Monday, Burhan said he would refuse external directives about the war and said previous pauses in fighting had only allowed the RSF and its backers to regroup.

Arab World

‘Death Boats’: Clandestine Boatbuilding Thrives Along Migration Routes from Libya

A workshop making boats for irregular migration after a raid in Libya (Special Tasks Department of the Interior Ministry in western Libya)
A workshop making boats for irregular migration after a raid in Libya (Special Tasks Department of the Interior Ministry in western Libya)
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‘Death Boats’: Clandestine Boatbuilding Thrives Along Migration Routes from Libya

A workshop making boats for irregular migration after a raid in Libya (Special Tasks Department of the Interior Ministry in western Libya)
A workshop making boats for irregular migration after a raid in Libya (Special Tasks Department of the Interior Ministry in western Libya)

Boats used to carry irregular migrants from Libya to Europe have become part of a clandestine market growing alongside people smuggling.

Smugglers are gradually moving from boats brought in from abroad to vessels built in Libya and outfitted specifically for sea crossings, security officials and rights advocates say.

Libyan authorities regularly announce the discovery of clandestine workshops or factories making boats for irregular migration, widely known as “death boats.”

The raids point to continued smuggling activity in coastal areas across both western and eastern Libya.

Photographs released over the years by security agencies on both sides of the country offer a glimpse of the workshops. Often abandoned or secluded sites, they contain wooden planks, engines and manufacturing equipment, as well as finished boats and others still under construction.

In some cases, security agencies have burned seized boats and components after raids to prevent their reuse in migrant smuggling.

The workshops are scattered across coastal cities near departure points for irregular migration, according to monitoring by the Benghazi Center for Migration Studies.

Some are carpentry shops or simple premises near the coast that have been converted to boatbuilding, the center’s head, Tarek Lamloum, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

In Zuwara, for example, authorities found a coastal property that had been turned into a workshop for wooden boats.

Earlier this September, authorities found two facilities making migration boats in Tobruk, in the east, and Sirte, along with boats and manufacturing equipment.

Similar sites had previously been raided in western Libya, including Tajoura in Tripoli, Khoms and al-Qawiya. Authorities found two facilities in Misrata last year.

Boats of every type

The discoveries, stretching from Misrata and greater Tripoli in the west to Sirte and Tobruk in the east, show that local boatbuilding continues across a wide area. They also come as migration routes and smuggling methods have changed in recent years.

Lamloum pointed to workshops concentrated in eastern Libya, particularly in Tobruk, Bir al-Ashhab and areas near the Egyptian border. Some wooden boats have historically been linked to Egypt, he said, whether through the boats themselves or the workers and expertise used to build them.

As the migration route from eastern Libya toward Crete and Greece expanded, local boatbuilding workshops also appeared in the region. Boats, including inflatable craft and locally made vessels, are smuggled from western to eastern Libya, reaching Tobruk and nearby departure points.

The market is therefore not a collection of separate local markets, Lamloum said. An internal supply network connects different parts of Libya and provides the boats and equipment needed for crossings.

He said his assessment draws on accounts from people who made the sea journey, as well as UN reports and published investigations into migration and smuggling routes.

Vessels used for the crossings include wooden and fiberglass boats, inflatable craft and old fishing boats bought for reuse. In recent years, boats built specifically for migration journeys have also appeared.

Their quality varies widely, and some are made cheaply without the standards required for fishing boats or ordinary seagoing vessels.

Their sizes and capacities vary too. Some carry dozens of people, while larger wooden boats can hold far more. “There is no single model that can be described as the Libyan migration boat,” Lamloum said.

Harsh crossings

Since the fall of former President Moammar al-Gaddafi’s government in 2011, Libya has remained both a destination and a transit country for migrants. Its role in Mediterranean migration routes to Europe subsequently grew.

About 936,000 migrants were in Libya in January and February, according to the latest figures from the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.

As the smuggling of irregular migrants expanded, the boats themselves became a commodity in that economy.

A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that a well-made wooden boat costs about 50,000 Libyan dinars, or roughly $5,000, without an engine. Lamloum agreed with the estimate, taking exchange rates and the cost of materials and engines into account.

Migrants and refugees often describe harsh crossings. Boats are frequently unseaworthy or overcrowded, increasing the risks for those aboard.

Mohamed K., a 25-year-old Egyptian who later settled in Italy and regularized his legal status, still remembers a journey he made on one of the boats years ago.

“The wooden boat was falling apart. There were about 85 people aboard, packed together without room to stand, and everyone was waiting either to arrive or to die at any moment,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Departures from Tobruk and its surroundings toward Italy increased from mid-2022, sometimes using large vessels carrying 400 people or more, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

As controls on those journeys tightened, smugglers changed tactics in late 2023, turning to smaller boats that were harder to detect, the organization said.

Related businesses, including supplying and outfitting boats and transporting them to departure points, flourished alongside the smuggling trade.

“There are those who finance, those who build, those who import boats and engines, those who transport them between cities, those who provide the captain and those who secure the departure point,” Lamloum said.

“It is no longer simply a smuggler buying a boat from a fisherman,” he said. “We are now looking at a supply chain and an entire economy linked to migration journeys.”

Arab World

Morocco Votes for a New Parliament

A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Rabat, Morocco, 23 September 2026. (EPA)
A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Rabat, Morocco, 23 September 2026. (EPA)
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Morocco Votes for a New Parliament

A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Rabat, Morocco, 23 September 2026. (EPA)
A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Rabat, Morocco, 23 September 2026. (EPA)

Moroccans voted for a new parliament Wednesday in an election shaped by mounting frustration among young people, high unemployment despite a thriving economy and demands for better schools, hospitals and housing.

Voter turnout in the election for the 395-seat House of Representatives was 38%.

The vote was the first since youth-led protests nearly a year ago and a mass attempt by migrants to cross Morocco’s northern border into the Spanish territory of Ceuta that left dozens dead. It will determine the next prime minister and the makeup of the government, which will serve alongside a powerful monarchy that retains broad authority over strategic affairs.

Results are expected Thursday.

The next government will oversee billions of dollars in investment as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, prompting some to describe it as the “World Cup government.” The new political leadership will also face pressure to address everyday concerns, including jobs, wages and the cost of living.

Othmane Mouden, a Casablanca businessman in his late 30s, believes elections are the only way Moroccans can make their voices heard.

“Protesting like the Gen Z youth will not bring any change,” he said on his way to the polling station. “You can only claim your rights through the polls.”

Voters chose among 7,288 candidates from 27 political parties. Since no single party is expected to obtain an absolute majority, the winner will need to negotiate with others to form a governing coalition.

The Moroccan Constitution requires the king to appoint the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in legislative elections.

One possibility for prime minister is Faouzi Lakjaa, president of Morocco’s soccer federation, who recently joined the PAM party and has been buoyed by Morocco’s recent soccer achievements.

Another is Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, 50, mayor of Marrakech and minister of urban planning, who would be Morocco’s first female prime minister.

As ballot stations opened in Casablanca and Rabat, voters of various ages formed small but continuous lines to cast their ballots.

Jamal Aamar, a 63-year-old retired banker, came to vote for the Federation of the Democratic Left, a left-wing coalition. Aamar said participating in the election allows his voice to be heard.

“If you boycott, you will leave others an empty seat,” he said.

Caterer Bader Eabram, 24, said Morocco's strong performance in recent World Cups and other soccer championships is driving some voters' choices, and providing hope.

“We’re all really eager to host the World Cup. It’s a great country,'' he said. ‘’We can do anything.''