Peace Agency Archives – Sky News Africa

Home Tags Peace Agency

sky news africa When we forgive we grow prosper, Nigeria’s Plateau peace agency assures

News

We forgive to grow, prosper, Nigeria’s Plateau peace agency assures

Uzo Kingsley - February 7, 2021

NIGERIA Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Joseph Lengmang in north central Nigeria, at the weekend appealed to...

MOST POPULAR

Cameroon: encouraging the business climate

Cameroon: encouraging the business climate

August 23, 2019

skynewsafrica Next year's Olympics will be cancelled if pandemic not over: Games chief

Next year’s Olympics will be cancelled if pandemic not over: Games...

April 28, 2020

Here's why Bill Gates and Nigeria's Dangote have a 'fruitful partnership'

Here’s why Bill Gates and Nigeria’s Dangote have a ‘fruitful partnership’

October 3, 2019

Teachers occupy Rio squares offering free classes

Teachers occupy Rio squares offering free classes

July 5, 2019

DON'T MISS

sky news africa Escorted by diplomats, Tanzanian opposition leader leaves

Politics

Escorted by diplomats, Tanzanian opposition leader leaves

Messi's FIFA win stained by complaints from Egypt, Sudan and Nicaragua

Politics

Messi’s FIFA win stained by complaints from Egypt, Sudan and Nicaragua

skynewsafrica Forces loyal to Libya's UN-recognised government said they launched an offensive Saturday for slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi's hometown Sirte, as rival strongman Khalifa Haftar backed a ceasefire following a string of military setbacks. Government of National Accord forces have repulsed a 14-month offensive against the capital Tripoli by eastern-based Haftar and are now poised to drive on eastwards taking advantage of stepped up military support from Turkey. "The air force has carried out five strikes in the outskirts of Sirte" -- the last major town before the traditional boundary between Libya's western Tripolitania and eastern Cyrenaica regions -- GNA spokesman Mohamad Gnounou said. "Orders have been given to our forces to begin their advance and to systematically attack all rebel positions," he added. Sirte was taken by Haftar's forces virtually without a fight in January after one of Libya's myriad local militias switched sides. Beyond Sirte lies the prize of Libya's main oil export ports, Haftar's most important strategic asset. Some 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, the town was where Kadhafi put up his last stand against NATO-backed rebel forces in 2011 and nostalgia for his ousted regime remains strong. - Ceasefire talks - AFP / Abdullah DOMA Libyans in the eastern port city of Benghazi watch a televised speech by strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have lost significant ground to a UN recognised government in recent weeks Haftar's forces have put a brave face on their precipitate fallback from the west, saying that it was a response to mounting international pressure for a lasting ceasefire. "Heeding appeals from the major powers and the United Nations for a ceasefire... we pulled back 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the Greater Tripoli city limits," the general's spokesman, Ahmad al-Mesmari, said. "We have asked friendly countries and the United Nations for guarantees... that the other side and the Turkish invaders refrain from attacking us," he told a news conference late Friday. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of Haftar's key foreign supporters, said after talks with the general and other eastern leaders Saturday that they had signed up to a declaration calling for a ceasefire from 6 am (0400 GMT) Monday. But the GNA forces' spokesman appeared to pour cold water on the Egyptian proposals, which included a demand that militias disband and hand over their weaponry to Haftar's men. "We didn't start this war, but we will choose the time and place when it ends," Gnounou said. "Our forces continue to advance with force and resolve, chasing the fleeing (Haftar) militias," he said. The United Nations' Libya mission said Tuesday that after a three-month suspension, the warring parties had agreed to resume ceasefire talks. Libya has endured years of violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Kadhafi, with rival administrations and scores of militias battling for power. The United Nations has urged outside powers to respect a deal reached at a January conference in Berlin, ending foreign meddling and upholding a much-violated arms embargo. While the GNA is backed by Turkey and its ally Qatar, Haftar is supported by Russia and the United Arab Emirates as well as Egypt. In April, UN experts said hundreds of mercenaries from Russian paramilitary organisation the Wagner Group were fighting for him. But last month, as Haftar's losses mounted, the GNA said Wagner Group fighters had withdrawn from combat zones south of the capital.

Crime

Libya govt says offensive launched for Kadhafi hometown Sirte

Skynewsafrica As strike drags on, French government to unveil pension plan details

News

As strike drags on, French government to unveil pension plan details