Libya’s Bashagha to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Will Remain in My Post Until Elections Are Held

Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha. (Reuters)
Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha. (Reuters)
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Libya’s Bashagha to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Will Remain in My Post Until Elections Are Held

Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha. (Reuters)
Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha. (Reuters)

Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha announced that he would remain in his position until “all Libyan parties” agree on electoral laws, which are welcomed by the international community, and until they set dates for the presidential and parliamentary elections.

“Only then will I decide,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview.

On whether he will run for president, he said he will make up his mind after the laws and regulations related to the polls are approved.

He hoped that the international community would take more steps in supporting the initiative of United Nations envoy Abdoulaye Bathily that aims for the elections to be held this year.

Bashagha dismissed claims that he has low chances of being elected president due to his government’s failure in entering the capital Tripoli to perform its duties.

“I have great popularity, whether I succeeded in entering Tripoli or not,” he stressed.

“Everyone knows that my project calls for the establishment of the state and this has prevented others from remaining in their posts for as long as possible and led to more calls for the elections to be held,” he remarked.

Commenting on his relations with Türkiye and reports that it had supplied his rival, head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, with drones to thwart his entry into Tripoli, Bashagha said: “Every phase has its circumstances and conditions. My relations with Ankara have been and continue to be excellent.”

Moreover, he praised the relations he enjoys with parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. “Some believe that these ties are strained, but that is not true,” he added.

On reports that Libyan parties want to keep Seif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, the son of late ruler Moammar, from running in the presidential elections, Bashagha said the issue is always brought up when talks are held over dropping the candidacy of figures who have judicial rulings against them.

Seif al-Islam is instantly the target of such discussions, he noted, saying that such a judicial condition is part of electoral laws in several countries.

Turning to armed groups in Libya, he said the issue is “not impossible to resolve”.

“With enough international support and political will, the problem can be overcome,” he added.

Furthermore, he said that when he served as interior minister, he had come up with a training and rehabilitation program for the fighters. Several of them have already been recruited and others have graduated as officers.

The program, however, came to a halt after his term as minister ended.

In addition, he warned of the spread of illegal weapons in Libya. This makes the country a safe haven for extremists.

Terrorist cells are already present in the South, he noted. They may expand their activities if they receive the necessary funding, he warned.

These cells are involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking.

He underscored the importance of forming a southern border force that could address the security situation there.

However, the security institutions would continue to be weak in the absence of a united government and the continued divisions, he lamented.

Asked about the international efforts to support the UN initiative on Libya, Bashagha called for employing “any efforts to help resolve the crisis.”

He acknowledged that the United States and Europe are keen on the withdrawal of Russia’s Wagner group from Libya.

“That is not their only concern,” he remarked.

“The stability of Libya is their priority as it is for neighboring countries, like Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Sudan, and the rest of Africa,” he stressed.

“Everyone knows that the longer the crisis in Libya goes on, the more likely it is to impact Africa,” he warned.



Hemedti’s Advisor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Government’s Priority Is Neutralizing the Army’s Air Power

Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hemedti’s Advisor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Government’s Priority Is Neutralizing the Army’s Air Power

Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Senior Advisor to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander, Ezzedine Al-Safi, stated that Sudan’s upcoming “Government of Peace and Unity” aims to protect civilians from the systematic and unprecedented aerial bombardment carried out by the Sudanese army.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Safi said that the new government, expected to be formed within a month of signing the political charter and interim constitution in Nairobi, will seek mechanisms to halt these attacks, which have killed over 5,000 people in recent months.

The RSF official emphasized that the primary duty of the new government is to stop the air raids. When asked if the RSF intends to acquire advanced air defense systems, he explained that the government would comply with international protocols on weapon acquisition, ensuring that only a national army possesses such capabilities. He argued that the Sudanese army’s sole military advantage lies in its air force and that neutralizing it would force the army to negotiate peace.

Regarding international recognition, Al-Safi dismissed the legitimacy of the Port Sudan-based government, claiming that it has seized state institutions to obtain weapons. He expressed hope that regional and international governments would support the new administration’s vision for peace and endorse it as Sudan’s legitimate government.

However, he stressed that the real recognition would come from the Sudanese people, “who have suffered for over two years from war, hunger, and deprivation.” He accused the Sudanese army and allied Islamist militias of weaponizing starvation against civilians, leading to food shortages and famine in several regions.

The new government, he asserted, will restore security, provide essential services, and work with friendly nations and humanitarian organizations to rebuild war-torn areas, regardless of political recognition.

Al-Safi revealed that the new government would be announced from Khartoum, dismissing speculation that it would be formed in exile. He clarified that the ongoing political discussions in Kenya are meant to finalize the political charter, similar to Kenya’s previous mediation efforts that led to Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

He confirmed that the charter has been approved, the interim constitution is in its final stages, and the government’s emergency program has been outlined. The final steps involve appointing government officials, including ministers and governors for Sudan’s 18 states, with the formation deadline set within a month of signing the interim constitution.

On alliances, Al-Safi confirmed that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, is in advanced discussions to join the new government. A finalized version of the political charter incorporating SPLM’s amendments has been agreed upon, and full participation is expected once their delegation arrives in Nairobi, he remarked, adding that discussions with the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid Al-Nur, are ongoing, with growing prospects of his faction joining as well.

Al-Safi concluded that the new government already enjoys widespread public support, as demonstrated by mass rallies in Darfur. Following its formation, official delegations will engage regional and Western governments, as well as international organizations, to outline their plans for peace, reconstruction, and humanitarian relief, he stated.