Haftar sets conditions to end Libya conflict, says militias must surrender arms
January 15, 2020, 11:31 am

Haftar sets conditions to end Libya conflict, says militias must surrender arms

Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before talks in Moscow. (Reuters)

Libyan National Army General Khalifa Haftar has informed Russia of a number of conditions to end nine months of fighting in the country, including a time limit of 45 to 90 days for armed militias to fully surrender their weapons.

Haftar also demanded the establishment of a committee made up of LNA representatives alongside the United Nations responsible for the collection of militia weapons provided that the work is fully under the control of the Libyan armed forces.

He also informed Russia of his refusal of Turkey being a mediator in the conflict and demanded that the mediating countries be neutral parties whose position is to support Libya's stability and not to support armed militias or extremists.

Haftar had left Moscow on Tuesday without signing a ceasefire agreement with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord led by prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Germany said it will host world leaders for a UN-sponsored summit on the conflict in Libya this weekend, the German government confirmed.

Representatives from 11 countries – including the US, Russia, France, China, and Turkey – have been invited to Sunday's talks.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”