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On Saturday, the Arab Parliament emphasized the necessity of proceeding with parliamentary and presidential elections in Libya and completing the delayed obligations.

During its fourth session held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, the Arab Parliament reiterated in its general assembly the need to reach a political solution that enhances security and stability across all regions of Libya.

The session also discussed the current situations in Arab countries, particularly the Palestinian issue, and the serious developments in Sudan and their impact on the Arab national security system.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed the Libyan stadiums approved for the 2024/2025 seasons of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.

CAF has approved “Tripoli International Stadium” and “Martyrs of Benina Stadium” in Benghazi for Libyan clubs to compete in the African tournaments.

CAF is awaiting the identification of the qualifying teams from Libya, which will be determined at the end of the Libyan Premier League’s six-team playoff on July 22 in Rome, Italy.

The preliminary draw for the CAF Champions League pits the current Libyan Premier League champions against Sudan’s Al-Merrikh, while the runner-up will face Sudan’s Al-Hilal.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, the third-placed team from the Libyan Premier League will face Ohangazi from Zanzibar, while the fourth-placed team will play against Uganda’s Kitara.

It is noteworthy that CAF’s stadium inspection committee visited Tripoli International Stadium last April following its comprehensive renovation, confirming its readiness to host international and continental matches for Libyan teams and national squads.

In conjunction with the recent signing of a “Confederal Union” treaty by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in Niamey, Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces of the “General Command,” arrived in Burkina Faso last Tuesday.

Significance of the Timing

Three days after the announcement of the trilateral alliance, which marked a break with the rest of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Saddam Haftar met with Transitional President Ibrahim Traoré in Ouagadougou. This visit is Haftar’s first official trip to Burkina Faso since his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces of the General Command.

Welcoming Cooperation

Various sources reported that the two sides discussed ways to enhance security and military cooperation, including the exchange of expertise in combating organized crime and terrorism. The visit also aimed to strengthen Libya’s relations with African countries and expand cooperation in various fields.

Consolidating Influence

According to the Russian newspaper “Vedemosti,” Russia is behind this visit as it seeks to consolidate its influence in Libya and the Sahel region. Moscow has significantly increased its presence, especially in military technology. This move has raised concerns in the United States, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stating that Russia’s efforts to deepen its foothold in Libya and use it as a base to further destabilize the Sahel region are worrying. He noted that approximately 1,800 Russian-backed forces are currently in Libya.

Recent media reports revealed that around 1,500 Russian fighters have arrived in eastern Libya as part of Russia’s plan to replace the Wagner Group with the “New African Corps,” with different and potentially more influential roles in Libya and other African countries.

Military Cooperation

The Russian Ministry of Defense has taken practical steps to coordinate with General Command leader Khalifa Haftar on the establishment of the “African Corps” and its leadership. Libya is likely to become a central hub for the corps, evidenced by repeated visits from Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to Benghazi in recent months, along with visits from General Command military delegations to Niger.

Russia has intensified its military activities in eastern Libya over the past three months. A report from “Military Africa” revealed that Russian cargo planes arrived at Al-Shati airbase in Libya, while cargo ships loaded with military equipment and weapons arrived at the port of Tobruk earlier.

Growing Concerns

These developments have raised increasing Western concerns, especially after the decline of French influence in Africa in recent times. Russia has worked to win over the military councils that led coups in several African countries, such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The Russian corps aims to increase its numbers in Africa to around 40,000 fighters after the US forces left base 101 in Niger.

Shifting Power Dynamics

The newly formed confederation was described by the leaders of the three countries during the summit as establishing an economic bloc that will be a complementary space for West African countries. The people of the three nations have decided to turn their backs on ECOWAS irrevocably, with the Sahel Union as the official alternative to any foreign-controlled regional group.

The statements by the alliance leaders went beyond justifying the coups to attempting to change the geopolitical landscape and balance of power in a region experiencing international military and economic conflicts.

Observers believe the new union’s implications will not only challenge Europe’s handling of migration flows through Libya and its investments in Africa but also confront Russia’s growing influence in the region.

Abdel Hakim Balkhair, a member of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), announced that the commission received financial support of 10 million dinars from the government led by Osama Hamad to facilitate municipal council elections. He added that the Government of National Unity, headed by Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, had promised to allocate funding for the commission but has yet to deliver any funds.

In a statement to Fawasel, Balkhair explained that the commission is currently carrying out its tasks using the financial allocations provided by the appointed government, along with other remaining funds in the commission’s treasury. He expressed hope that the Government of National Unity will provide support in the upcoming stages of the electoral process.

Regarding the progress of the electoral process, Balkhair noted that after the closure of the voter registry for the sixty municipal councils, the commission will begin the phase of printing and distributing electoral cards. He mentioned that voters with previous cards will be allowed to use them, while new cards will be printed for those without existing ones.

He clarified that the next steps will include publishing the preliminary voter lists at the electoral centers, opening the door for appeals, and awaiting court decisions on these appeals before releasing the final voter lists.

Balkhair concluded by stating that once the voter lists are finalized, the registration for candidates will open, followed by the appeals process for candidate lists, leading to the final stage of the electoral process, which includes the election campaign period and then the voting process.

Two days have passed since the disappearance of journalist Ahmed Al-Senussi, and his fate remains unknown. According to his family, contact was lost with him on Thursday afternoon after he left his home. They have not been able to obtain any new details about his health condition, the identity of the kidnappers, or his whereabouts.

Local Reactions

Reactions to the incident have varied locally and internationally. The High Council of State issued a statement warning against leniency towards those who commit kidnappings and calling for their prosecution. The council emphasized the importance of not justifying such acts to avoid impunity, stating: “The law regulates all acts of arrest, search, and detention, specifies those responsible, outlines the methods for carrying out their duties, and organizes the rules for their protection while executing orders.”

Meanwhile, Jaballah Al-Shibani, a member of the House of Representatives, posted on his social media page that “individual stances and publicly opposing corruption expose one to numerous risks, and collective, organized popular movements are the correct response in such difficult times of tyranny and oppression,” adding that “this is what happened to journalist Ahmed Al-Senussi.”

The Libyan Journalists Network also released a statement condemning Al-Senussi’s kidnapping, expressing deep concern over the increasing incidents of abductions and assaults on journalists in Libya. The network urged the Attorney General’s office to investigate the incident immediately and work towards his prompt release.

International Condemnation

The reactions extended beyond local official and unofficial entities to the international community. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for the immediate and safe release of Ahmed Al-Senussi, condemning his arrest. The CPJ stressed that it is unacceptable for the authorities not to disclose his location or the reason for his detention, noting that they had not received any response to their emails sent to the Libyan Internal Security Agency regarding his arrest.

Additionally, the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Libya condemned what it described as the “kidnapping” of journalist Ahmed Al-Senussi, calling for his release, ensuring his safety, securing his return to his journalistic work, and eliminating the phenomenon of kidnapping.

Mohamed Takala, the President of the High Council of State, has issued a warning to Sadiq al-Kabir, the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, regarding the recent approval of the general state budget law for the current year by the House of Representatives. In his letter, Takala urged al-Kabir not to implement the budget law, citing its “illegitimacy” and the High Council of State’s firm opposition to its approval. He emphasized the need to adhere to the correct legal processes.

Takala held the Central Bank Governor accountable for what he described as the “legal, historical, and ethical responsibility” for the potential political and economic repercussions of implementing the budget law. He warned that doing so could worsen the country’s crisis and deepen existing divisions, as well as negatively impact the state’s financial sustainability and the functioning of its institutions.

In his letter, Takala highlighted that the House’s approval of the budget violated the Libyan Political Agreement. This agreement requires the government, as the competent authority, to present the draft budget law to the High Council of State for its binding opinion before referring it to the House of Representatives for discussion and approval. Takala noted that the government must follow these steps, and if it fails to do so, the budget should not be discussed. He asserted that this process was not followed in the current instance.

Furthermore, the letter reaffirmed that the High Council of State had previously informed the Speaker of the House of Representatives of its rejection of the decisions made in the referenced House session, deeming them legally ineffective for not adhering to the proper procedures required for passing the state budget law according to the applicable legislation.

MOmar Abu Shreida, former president of the Union of Maghreb Students and Youth and special envoy for presidential candidate Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has raised concerns about the UN mission in Libya’s stance on recent political detentions. While he endorsed the mission’s condemnation of forced arrests and kidnappings targeting political activists, he was critical of its silence on a specific incident.

Abu Shreida expressed his dismay at the UN mission’s failure to condemn the arrest of Sheikh Ali Abu Sbaiha, head of the reconciliation committee for Gaddafi’s presidential campaign. He suggested this omission reflects poorly on Stephanie Koury, the new Deputy Special Representative, in her initial engagements with Libya’s political landscape.

He questioned whether the UN mission genuinely represents the international community’s commitment to a fair political solution, or if it has shifted to a different political stance. Abu Shreida concluded that this situation casts doubt on the mission’s impartiality in addressing the ongoing Libyan crisis.

Brega Petroleum Marketing Company has announced that fuel is available in its depots, confirming that operations are running smoothly and reassuring citizens that there is no shortage in stock.

It is worth noting that several areas in the capital, Tripoli, are experiencing significant congestion at fuel stations, with waiting times ranging from one hour to more.

The monthly report from OPEC revealed a rise in Libya’s crude oil production by 24,000 barrels per day in June, bringing the country’s output to 1.200 million barrels per day, up from 1.177 million barrels per day in May.

According to the OPEC report on the oil market, Saudi Arabia experienced the largest decline in crude oil production in June, while Libya and Venezuela saw the greatest increases in daily output.

Last Tuesday, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced its plan to boost production rates through the Waha Oil Company, aiming to raise its daily crude oil output to 322,000 barrels. Additionally, the NOC reported that the Sarir Oil Company achieved a daily increase of 7,800 barrels as part of its strategic plan to enhance production.

The Libyan national volleyball team is set to face Saudi Arabia in their sixth match of the Arab Under-17 Volleyball Championship, currently being held in Amman, Jordan.

Presently, the national team holds third place in the tournament standings with 12 points, trailing Saudi Arabia by two points, while Bahrain leads with 16 points.

Having won four out of their five matches so far, the national team has demonstrated strong performance. They aim to secure another victory in their upcoming match to improve their position in the championship rankings.