US Mediates between Libya's Dbeibah, Bashagha

Libyan prime minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah chairing a cabinet meeting. (Libyan government)
Libyan prime minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah chairing a cabinet meeting. (Libyan government)
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US Mediates between Libya's Dbeibah, Bashagha

Libyan prime minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah chairing a cabinet meeting. (Libyan government)
Libyan prime minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah chairing a cabinet meeting. (Libyan government)

US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland kicked off public and official mediation efforts between Premier Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Prime Minister-designate Fathi Bashagha.

However, Norland did not indicate which government was recognized by the US administration.

Norland spoke over the phone with both Dbeibah and Bashagha urging them to consider ways to manage Libya's affairs while efforts are underway, with UN facilitation, to restore momentum towards parliamentary and presidential elections rapidly.

"In the context of ongoing political tensions in Libya, I have been in touch with PM Dbeibah and PM-designate Fathi Bashagha and am confident both leaders want to avoid escalating violence," he disclosed via the US Embassy Twitter account.

He lauded their "mutual commitment" to holding elections as soon as possible and confirmed that such decisions "only Libyans can make," reaffirming Washington's support in reaching peaceful solutions.

Later, Norland discussed with Speaker Aguila Saleh how to deescalate tensions, avoid violence, and restore momentum to parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible.

The ambassador welcomed the Speaker's commitment to engage with UN efforts to produce rapid agreement on a constitutional basis and his emphasis on High National Election Commission's (HNEC) decisive role.

They agreed that Libya could not return to the turmoil of the past.

Earlier, Saleh discussed with the UK Charge d'Affaires, Kate English, the measures taken between the House of Representatives (HoR) and the state in the twelfth constitutional amendment and the selection of a new prime minister.

The British official intends to hold a meeting with Saleh and visit Benghazi and the eastern region soon.

The British Embassy said English had a "constructive discussion" with Saleh, and they agreed on the importance of engaging with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser initiative to define a constitutional basis for elections.

They also agreed on the importance of stability and the need for compromise and dialogue at this critical time in Libya's transition.

In turn, UN Special Adviser Stephanie Williams criticized the media campaigns targeting efforts to end division in Libya.

Williams defended her initiative that aims at "bringing Libyans together to agree on a consensual constitutional basis to enable the holding of these elections as soon as possible."

She reiterated her support to the millions of Libyans who want to change this unacceptable reality and renew the legitimacy of institutions through elections.

"Libyans need to agree on a consensual way forward that prioritizes preserving the country's unity and stability."

Williams' statements seemed to respond to criticism directed at her initiative inviting leadership of both the House of Representatives and the High Council of State to nominate six delegates from each chamber to form a joint committee dedicated to developing a consensual constitutional basis.



Sudan Arms Surge Raises Alarms Over Civilian Protection

Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
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Sudan Arms Surge Raises Alarms Over Civilian Protection

Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)
Sudan says it destroyed 50,000 explosive remnants of war (AFP)

A surge in deadly violence has gripped the quiet northern town of al-Dabbah, exposing the growing threat posed by the rampant spread of weapons across Sudan in the absence of effective state control.

At least eight people were killed over just two days, four in tribal clashes and four others in a street fight within the town.

The latest bloodshed comes amid a broader climate of insecurity, where gunfire has become a common soundscape. In nearby Omdurman, social media users circulated graphic footage of a young man shot dead in cold blood after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone.

Reports of killings and injuries from arguments and brawls settled with bullets have flooded social platforms, painting a grim picture of lawlessness. Armed robbery gangs are said to roam freely, terrorizing civilians with no security forces in sight.

As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, guns have become as commonplace in towns and villages as household items. What was once settled with fists or sticks is now resolved through the barrel of a gun.

Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly armed themselves, citing the need for self-defense amid state collapse and the disintegration of law enforcement.

Even before the war erupted, estimates suggested around 2.2 million firearms were circulating in Sudan’s conflict zones. Since then, the figure is believed to have ballooned, with unofficial estimates placing the current number at nearly six million, most acquired privately or informally.

In al-Dabbah, local authorities confirmed tribal clashes erupted between members of the Kababish and Hawaweer tribes, leaving four dead and others wounded before security forces intervened. The following day, a quarrel between vehicle drivers escalated into a gunfight, claiming four more lives.

Meanwhile, in the Omdurman district of Al-Hattana, gunmen fatally shot a man while attempting to snatch his phone, another grim scene that social media brought into public view.

Weapons have now flooded Sudan’s markets. Eyewitnesses and former security officials say that under the brief control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, firearms were openly sold on the street like vegetables, with prices starting at just 20,000 Sudanese pounds, roughly $10.

Security experts say this gun chaos is not a sudden phenomenon but the product of years of unchecked proliferation.

Under former President Omar al-Bashir, weapons were distributed to tribal militias to fight opposing groups. With the eruption of nationwide conflict, arms have spread from the traditional battlegrounds of Darfur and Kordofan to cities in Sudan’s north, east, and center.

Legal analyst Moaz Hadra warned of the growing dangers of “random arming,” saying some groups are being trained and armed outside Sudan to destabilize the country. “Why are these groups being trained abroad instead of within Sudan’s military institutions?” he asked when speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Officials Downplay Risk, Citing Self-Defense

Despite mounting violence, Sudanese security and military officials continue to downplay the threat. They argue that most weapons are held by civilians for self-protection against RSF attacks or roaming bandits. “Should a citizen wait helplessly while armed men storm his home?” one commentator asked rhetorically.

Brigadier General Fath al-Rahman al-Toum, a police spokesman, dismissed fears of total lawlessness, saying that gun crackdowns are ongoing and that firearms possession is being treated as an exceptional situation under extraordinary circumstances.

Others, like Brigadier General Saleh Abdullah, insist that once the war ends, collecting the weapons will be “very easy,” noting that most guns were distributed under strict regulations to reserve forces and can be retrieved using serial numbers registered to each piece. “The army has always managed its weapons according to clear protocols,” he said.

Major General Mujahid Ibrahim added that Sudan’s porous borders, particularly in the west, have made it easier for arms to enter the country unchecked, exacerbating the crisis. Still, military officials say weapons loaned to civilians can be recovered thanks to detailed logs and unique identifiers.

Yet, as al-Dabbah and Omdurman reel from fresh bouts of violence, the gap between official reassurance and on-the-ground chaos continues to widen. With Sudan’s civil war showing no sign of abating, the unchecked spread of guns threatens to tear apart what remains of the country’s fragile social fabric.