Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
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Williams Praises ‘Valuable’ Discussion on Disarmament in Libya

UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)
UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams (UNSMIL)

The meetings of Libya’s Joint Military Commission (5+5) has continued for the second day in a row in Tunis, co-chaired by UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams in collaboration with France.

Representatives from the UK, Turkey, Italy, the African Union, and figures from the Security Working Group (SWG) for Libya participated in the meetings.

Williams “stressed the importance of ensuring that stability is maintained, and that calm is preserved on the ground” and she “congratulate the JMC 5+5 on the work it has done thus far.”

“We were joined by the entirety of the JMC 5+5, as well as other co-chairs, the UK, Turkey, Italy, and the AU, for a valuable discussion on ceasefire monitoring, disarmament and demobilization, and the way forward on the JMC 5+5’s work,” Williams tweeted.

“Also, in Tunis yesterday, I was pleased to later join the Libyan and international ceasefire monitors in their first in-person meeting, during which they demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to operationalizing the next steps of the ceasefire agreement.”

Williams said she discussed the Libyan situation in a meeting in Tunis with senior officials of the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, and Turkey.

“I am grateful to all of them for their support for the holding of elections as soon as possible, on the basis of a solid, consensual constitutional framework, for the sake of fulfilling the aspirations of the Libyan people to vote for their representatives,” Williams explained.



UN Seeks $6 Billion to Ease Hunger Catastrophe in Sudan

Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Seeks $6 Billion to Ease Hunger Catastrophe in Sudan

Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)
Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025. (AFP)

UN officials on Monday asked for $6 billion for Sudan this year from donors to help ease what they called the world's worst ever hunger catastrophe and the mass displacement of people brought on by civil war.

The UN appeal represents a rise of more than 40% from last year's for Sudan at a time when aid budgets around the world are under strain, partly due to a pause in funding announced by US President Donald Trump last month that has affected life-saving programs across the globe.

The UN says the funds are necessary because the impact of the 22-month war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - that has already displaced a fifth of its population and stoked severe hunger among around half its population - looks set to worsen.

World Food Program chief Cindy McCain, speaking via video to a room full of diplomats in Geneva, said: "Sudan is now the epicenter of the world's largest and most severe hunger crisis ever."

She did not provide figures, but Sudan's total population currently stands at about 48 million people. Among previous world famines, the Bengal Famine of 1943 claimed between 2 million and 3 million lives, according to several estimates, while millions are believed to have died in the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-61.

Famine conditions have been reported in at least five locations in Sudan, including displacement camps in Darfur, a UN statement said, and this was set to worsen with continued fighting and the collapse of basic services.

"This is a humanitarian crisis that is truly unprecedented in its scale and its gravity and it demands a response unprecedented in scale and intent," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said.

One of the famine-stricken camps was attacked by the RSF last week as the group tries to tighten its grip on its Darfur stronghold.

While some aid agencies say they have received waivers from Washington to provide aid in Sudan, uncertainty remains on the extent of coverage for providing famine relief.

The UN plan aims to reach nearly 21 million people within the country, making it the most ambitious humanitarian response so far for 2025, and requires $4.2 billion - the rest being for those displaced by the conflict.