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United Nation (UN) in Libya marks 80 years of the United Nation (UN) with a public photography exhibition in downtown Tripoli

Source: APO – Report:

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Representatives of the United Nations in Libya, joined by Libyan ministers and officials, ambassadors, members of the public, and Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hanna Tetteh, celebrated the UN Day and opened a photography exhibition, entitled “Building Our Future Together”, at Eskandar Arts House.

The exhibition marks eighty years since the founding of the organization and highlights the UN’s partnership with the people of Libya in advancing peace, stability and sustainable development. 

“This exhibition tells the stories of partnership and perseverance: teachers keeping classrooms open during power cuts, engineers restoring water systems, youth cleaning beaches, women entrepreneurs creating livelihoods, and advocates ensuring accessibility for all,” said SRSG Tetteh. She added that the exhibition invites all Libyans, international partners and UN colleagues to work side by side for a common purpose supporting the country’s progress. 

The UN Day commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945, marking the formal establishment of the UN. For eighty years, the UN has sought to advance the principles of peace, justice, human rights, and international cooperation. Libya was one of the first nations to be affirmed for independence through the UN system, following resolutions of the General Assembly in 1949.  

“Through many initiatives across Libya, including those represented in this photo exhibition, the UN stands with Libyans: connecting, supporting and helping your ideas, knowledge and skills grow. Our measure of success will not be how many barriers we remove together, but how many opportunities we create together,” said SRSG Tetteh in her opening remarks. 

The opening ceremony was followed by a round table discussion with youth, women and persons with disabilities from across the country, led by DSRSG Stephanie Koury and DSRSG Ulrika Richardson, alongside representatives from UNDP, UNFPA and UNHCR.  

The discussion focused on amplifying the perspectives of Libya’s next generation and highlighting their aspirations for a better future. 

In her opening remarks, DSRSG/RC Richardson highlighted “Libya stands at a turning point, and Libya’s younger generation has shown that it has the courage, talent and vision to steer the country toward stability and peace”. She added it was “important to build together a Libya where every voice counts and every person contributes to lasting peace and development.” 

“The future of any country is constantly being built through dialogue between generations, blending wisdom with new ideas,” added SRSG Tetteh. “To Libya’s young people, ultimately you will lead the way with your dreams, skills, expertise and courage. Your participation is not symbolic, it is essential.” 

The UN entities working to support a better future in Libya are: FAO, ILO, IOM, OCHA, OHCHR, UN Habitat, UN Women, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNMAS, UNODC, UNOPS, UNSMIL, WFP and WHO.  

– on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

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Higher Education Committee Resolves to Conduct Urgent Oversight Visit to the University of Fort Hare

Source: APO – Report:

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Following the recent student protests at the University of Fort Hare that led to the destruction of the university property, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has decided to conduct an urgent oversight visit to the university’s Alice Campus in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday, 21 October 2025.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Tebogo Letsie, lamented the extent of the damage and the disruption to academic activities. He said the destruction is estimated to be between R250 million to R500 million.

“The violent student unrest could have been avoided if the university management had engaged with students and allowed the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections to take place as requested. Instead, the university management, decided to appoint an Interim SRC after the term of the elected SRC expired. The destruction was severe and affected critical infrastructure, including academic records,” said Mr Letsie.

He added that the situation might affect the university’s ability to verify the academic records of students who are due to graduate because of the damage to the administration building.
“We hope that the committee’s intervention will help bring all parties together to unpack the root causes of this unrest and to find lasting solutions,” said Mr Letsie.

Regarding the University of the Free State (UFS), Mr Letsie said the committee had also delegated some of its members to go on a fact-finding mission and to engage with management with a view to restoring stability. The UFS unrest was an unnecessary provocation of students, and it was an irrational decision where management decided to do away with provisional registration for the 2026 academic year.

Mr Letsie said to worsen the situation, the UFS management also decided to demand the evacuation of students from residences within 24 hours. This exacerbated the student unrest, and many students funded by NSFAS do not have the means to travel to their homes abruptly. “The excessive use of force by armed private security personnel towards unarmed students was seriously concerning,” emphasised Mr Letsie

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Should Boko Haram fighters be given a second chance in society? We asked 2,000 young Nigerians

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Amélie Godefroidt, Assistant Professor in Conflict Management, IÉSEG School of Management; KU Leuven

Across the world, the question of how to deal with former fighters remains urgent. From Nigeria and Iraq to Syria and the Sahel, governments are wrestling with how to bring people who once fought for violent groups back into society. Reintegrating ex-fighters – after appropriate punishment – is unavoidable. This is because alternatives such as indefinite detention, capital punishment or abandonment are unsustainable and risk fuelling future cycles of violence.

Yet local communities often seem to resist welcoming ex-combatants back.

How, then, can societies balance the need for reintegration with local resistance?

As scholars of public opinion during and after episodes of political violence, we set out to better understand these tensions. We have years of fieldwork experience in Nigeria and other conflict-affected settings and, together with our local team, we conducted a study to assess citizens’ views on reintegration. How risky would it be to take a certain person back? And does this person deserve a second chance?

Our research was conduced in Nigeria, where Boko Haram’s insurgency has devastated communities for more than two decades. As the group has weakened and thousands of fighters have surrendered, the government has launched programmes to reintegrate them into civilian life. These initiatives have achieved limited success so far, as many citizens remain wary and resistant to their return.

We surveyed around 2,000 young Nigerians and asked them to evaluate different hypothetical profiles of former Boko Haram fighters. This allowed us to see how different characteristics shaped public preferences.

We found that respondents were more forgiving towards former fighters who were forced to join the insurgency and expressed remorse afterwards. They were less willing to reintegrate more militant and less repentant offenders.

Our findings speak to several high-level policy debates today. Nigeria continues to run reintegration programmes. While some returnees have successfully rejoined their communities, others have faced suspicion, threats, and even renewed displacement.

What we found

Three patterns stood out:

Why they joined matters. People were far more open to reintegrating fighters who were forcibly recruited or joined as children than those who joined voluntarily – especially for ideological reasons. As one respondent put it:

Young fighters had little guidance or knowledge of what trouble they were going into.

What they do after leaving matters even more. Former fighters who left voluntarily and took part in reconciliation efforts, especially cooperating with the police or army in their fight against Boko Haram, enjoyed much stronger public support. One respondent even went a step further, suggesting that

instead of a prison sentence, former militias should serve a period of compulsory community service rebuilding the states they have destroyed.

Some atrocities were harder to forgive. As one participant put it:

The only precondition is that they have never taken a life. No killer deserves to be free, let alone get amnesty.

Still, our experimental results show this mattered less than one might expect: while people were reluctant to accept those who committed severe violence, the circumstances of joining and leaving weighed more heavily.

These same patterns also influenced whether people believed reintegration would succeed, and what punishments they thought appropriate. Fighters who were forced to join and left voluntarily were expected to reintegrate successfully and were more likely to be granted amnesty. Fighters seen as willing culprits who refused reconciliation were more often judged to deserve the death penalty.

Importantly, these patterns held broadly across different groups – whether respondents were Christian or Muslim, from the north or south, victims or non-victims of Boko Haram violence.

In short: willingness to forgive depended less on the violence of the past than on whether ex-fighters signalled remorse and a genuine commitment to peace today.

Why this matters

Our research suggests that reintegration and reconciliation is more likely to succeed when:

(1) Clear conditions are set. Linking reintegration to reconciliatory behaviour can reassure communities.

(2) Citizens are informed. Communication campaigns that explain how some fighters were coerced, or highlight the risks taken by those who defected, can reduce public resistance.

(3) Reconciliation is made visible. Publicising ex-fighters’ efforts to cooperate with authorities or support victims helps rebuild trust.

The lesson is simple but often overlooked: preparing societies for the return of ex-fighters is as important as preparing the fighters themselves. Without community buy-in, reintegration risks deepening divides instead of healing them.

– Should Boko Haram fighters be given a second chance in society? We asked 2,000 young Nigerians
– https://theconversation.com/should-boko-haram-fighters-be-given-a-second-chance-in-society-we-asked-2-000-young-nigerians-266289

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Qatar Stresses Pressing Need to Establishing a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in the Middle East

Source: Government of Qatar

New York, October 18, 2025

The State of Qatar has reiterated its firm position that the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East is more urgent than ever, given the current regional and global security challenges.

This was affirmed in a statement delivered by Khalid Ibrahim Al Mansouri, member of Qatar’s delegation to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, during the First Committee’s discussions on nuclear weapons at UN Headquarters in New York.

Al Mansouri stressed that the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a deeply troubling concern for the international community, as it significantly heightens the risk of accidents and potential attacks-threats that carry catastrophic consequences for humanity and future generations.

He warned that the continued development and modernization of nuclear arsenals, along with threats to use them, further exacerbate global tensions and undermine both regional and international peace and security.

Qatar emphasized that global efforts to achieve comprehensive nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are foundational to building safe and peaceful societies. Al Mansouri noted that the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the UN General Assembly reflects a growing international awareness of the dangers posed by nuclear proliferation, beginning with the risks associated with testing and weapons development.

He further highlighted that the possession of nuclear weapons complicates existing armed conflicts, worsens regional crises, and contributes to a heightened state of global insecurity.

In light of escalating tensions stemming from regional and international conflicts-as well as the increasing incorporation of nuclear weapons into military doctrines and continued testing of delivery systems-Qatar stressed the critical need for regional and international consensus in the Middle East. Building good-neighborly relations, he said, must be a priority for resolving disputes, enhancing security, and protecting civilians and vital infrastructure.

Qatar reaffirmed its support for convening the sixth session of the United Nations Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, scheduled for November this year.

Al Mansouri also underlined the importance of the upcoming 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), set to take place from April 27 to May 22, and welcomed Vietnam’s presidency of the conference. He expressed Qatar’s full support for Vietnam’s efforts and hoped the conference would yield substantive and positive outcomes.

He reiterated the importance of implementing obligations arising from international agreements related to nuclear disarmament and emphasized the need for the responsible development of peaceful nuclear energy. He stressed the importance of preventing the leakage of radioactive materials across borders and called for robust safeguards under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the highest standards of nuclear safety and security in a world where proliferation remains a pressing concern.

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Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to an Immediate Ceasefire During a Round of Negotiations in Doha

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha – October 19, 2025

A round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan was held in Doha , mediated by the State of Qatar and the Republic of Türkiye. 

During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries.

The two parties also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner, thus contributing to achieving security and stability in both countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s hope that this important step will contribute to ending tensions on the border between the two brotherly countries and form a solid foundation for sustainable peace in the region.

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Statement by United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcoming the continuation of municipal council elections

Source: APO


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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomes the holding of municipal council elections today, 18 October, in 16 municipalities in eastern, central and southern Libya, following the interruption of the process on 16 August. The Mission commends the agreement reached between the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and the relevant authorities to enable the resumption of this important electoral process, contributing to the restoration of the legitimacy of local governance institutions. UNSMIL encourages all registered voters in those municipalities to exercise their right and vote today. UNSMIL reiterates its call for all security actors to ensure a peaceful and transparent environment that allows voters to freely exercise their democratic rights. 

The Mission also welcomes the resumption of the electoral process in other municipalities which had earlier been disrupted or delayed and where voter registration is slated to start on 20 October with polling day expected in February 2026. The reopening of voter registration in these municipalities marks a crucial step toward ensuring that all Libyans can participate in shaping their local leadership. UNSMIL calls upon all eligible voters in these municipalities to register so as to enable them to exercise their right to vote in the near future. 

UNSMIL commends HNEC and all its staff for continuation of this important process, which in the past 12 months has successfully conducted 91 municipal councils across the country, under challenging circumstances.  It also commends local security officers for helping to create an enabling environment for elections.  

The Mission reaffirms its continued support for inclusive and credible elections that reflect the will of the Libyan people and strengthen the foundations of democratic governance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

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President El-Sisi Meets Chairman of the Board of Directors of the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group, Robert Mærsk Uggla. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Adm. Ossama Rabiee and Chief Group Representative A.P. Møller- Mærsk in the Middle East & North Africa Hany El Nady. 

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the President commenced by emphasizing the deep strategic partnership between the Egyptian state, represented by the Suez Canal Authority, and the Mærsk Group and lauded the Group’s projects in Egypt to produce and supply ships with green fuel, which enhances Egypt’s position as a regional hub for the Group’s operations, both in the field of container trade and clean energy production. 

President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the Group’s efforts in the ongoing expansion of the Suez Canal Container Terminal in the East Port Said Port. 

The Group’s chairman thanked President El-Sisi for the vital role played by Egypt, under his leadership, in reaching an agreement to stop the war in Gaza and hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit. He stressed that these efforts will have positive repercussions for regional stability and shipping traffic in the Red Sea. He also emphasized the Group’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority, as it is the most important global shipping lifeline for supply chains and provides a more efficient and less costly route compared to alternative routes. He also praised the advanced services offered by the canal to transiting vessels. 

The Group’s chairman said Mærsk looked forward to supporting Egypt’s efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, noting that the East Port Said Port can play a pivotal role in this regard. He also highlighted the continued support the Group’s operations in Egypt receive, stressing that the scope of the Group’s investments and projects in Egypt reflects its firm confidence in the Egyptian economic environment and its stability. He praised the Suez Canal Authority’s significant development in terms of infrastructure and technical capabilities, which qualifies Egypt to become a leading regional hub for supplying ships with green fuel. The meeting addressed ways to enhance cooperation between the Suez Canal Authority and Mærsk in the fields of training, exchange of expertise, maritime transport, logistics, container handling terminals, and maritime services. 

President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to creating a favorable investment climate and overcoming any challenges the Group may face in Egypt, noting the state’s aspiration to increase Maersk’s investments and presence in the Egyptian market. The chairman of the Suez Canal Authority expressed his appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the SCA and Mærsk and stressed that the Authority looked forward to expanding the partnership with Mærsk by establishing more joint projects that contribute to supporting the national economy and enhancing Egypt’s position as a global hub for maritime and logistics services. 

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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President El-Sisi Meets Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Aviation

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Presidential Advisor for Urban Planning Major General Amir Sayed Ahmed and Presidential Advisor for Financial Affairs Lieutenant General Ahmed El-Shazly. 

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the President was briefed on the implementation status of the Terminal 4 project at Cairo International Airport, being one of the strategic projects aimed at improving service quality and enhancing the airport’s infrastructure. In this context, the minister of civil aviation indicated that the new terminal will have a capacity of no less than 30 million passengers, raising the airport’s total capacity to over 60 million passengers annually. He added that the project will rely on cutting-edge smart technologies, making it one of the most advanced passenger terminals globally, offering an exceptional and integrated travel experience.

President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of the project to be based on a state-of-the-art operational system, incorporating the latest technologies in air navigation, ground operations, and facility management. The President also stressed the need to integrate technological innovations based on research and development outcomes to ensure the creation of a smart and sustainable environment that aligns with global standards.

The President also briefed on the latest updates on the state’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the civil aviation sector, including plans to develop airports and increase their capacity, as part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s objective to reach 72.2 million passengers annually by the end of 2025, in parallel with improving the quality of services provided to passengers, in support of the state’s target to increase the number of tourists to 30 million annually. In this regard, the President gave directives to strengthen the strategic partnerships to attract more foreign direct investment in the civil aviation sector, through the establishment of integrated investment zones around Egyptian airports, while stressing the importance of strict adherence to environmental standards in all sector activities and projects, in line with the state’s vision for a green economy and a more sustainable aviation system. 

The President also emphasized the importance of promptly identifying and addressing any complaints related to the quality of services at various airports, and handling them with seriousness and urgency in a manner that contributes to improving the travel experience and enhancing passenger confidence.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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Al-Mashat Discusses Joint Efforts to Empower the Private Sector & Expand Innovative Financing Mechanisms with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director

Source: APO


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H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Governor of Egypt to the World Bank, met with H.E. Mr. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group (WBG). 

The meeting was attended by H.E. Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, and in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Regional Vice President for Africa, H.E. Mr. Cheick Oumar Sylla, Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and H.E. Mr. Stephane Gimbert, Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti at the World Bank, along with other officials.

This took place during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington. The meeting included discussions on joint efforts between the government and the IFC to empower the private sector and expand innovative financing mechanisms for local and foreign companies.

The two sides also discussed regional and global economic developments, particularly in light of the historic peace agreement signed by Egypt, the United States, Qatar, and Türkiye in Sharm El Sheikh, the ending of the war on Gaza, and its reflection on regional stability, as well as its positive implications for the Egyptian economy. They also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip in coordination with the international community.

Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the pivotal role of the IFC, the World Bank’s private sector financing arm, in providing concessional financing and investments to local and foreign private sector companies in Egypt. Consequently, Egypt is considered one of the Corporation’s largest countries of operation, with a private sector investment portfolio exceeding $9 billion. This aligns with the state’s efforts to empower the private sector and create space for local and foreign investments to lead comprehensive and sustainable growth and boost employment.

The meeting followed up on ongoing efforts to offer government airports for partnership with the private sector, in implementation of an earlier agreement signed between the government and the IFC. The program aims to attract private sector funding for airport modernization and expansion without burdening the state’s general budget.

Furthermore, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation referred to the European Union Guarantee Mechanism worth €1.8 billion, which was activated during the Egyptian-European Investment Conference in 2024. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that this mechanism represents an important impetus for the private sector to attract investments. She also mentioned the necessity of joint coordination for the IFC to benefit from this mechanism, which contributes to increasing available financing for the private sector.

Minister Al-Mashat reviewed “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience”, which aims to achieve integration between Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the government program, in light of the accelerating changes imposed by regional and international developments. This is intended to continue the path of economic reform and to focus more on higher productivity sectors that are better able to penetrate export markets.

Dr. Al-Mashat stressed that empowering the private sector and redefining the state’s role in the economy is a core pillar of Egypt’s new economic model presented by “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development”, with the aim of boosting economic competitiveness and shifting towards productive sectors. She underscored that the government is working to create an attractive investment environment that allows the local and foreign private sector to lead development efforts through clear policies.

The meeting also discussed various partnership axes with the IFC, including their contribution to desalination projects, the implementation of the State Ownership Policy Document, and the Corporation’s financing for various private sector companies.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

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Secretary-General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Participates in Symposium on Strengthening Bridges of Cooperation and Solidarity between Qatar and Germany

Source: Government of Qatar

Berlin, October 18, 2025

HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi participated in the symposium “Building Bridges: Qatar and Germany in Dialogue for Tolerance, Peace, and Solidarity,” held at the Arab Culture House (Divan) of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The symposium was attended by HE Michael Müller, a member of the German Parliament and former Mayor of Berlin, and a group of intellectuals, professors, and those interested in the dialogue of civilizations from both Qatar and Germany.

In a speech during the event, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations said that the State of Qatar regards dialogue among civilizations as an indispensable mechanism for building bridges of communication between societies and peoples, getting to know each other, promoting mutual respect, and achieving international stability and peace.

His Excellency highlighted the importance of this symposium, which focuses on building bridges of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany, promoting the values of coexistence and human solidarity, and spreading a culture of peace and non-violence — especially since both countries contribute, through national and international humanitarian institutions, to supporting the efforts of the international community in the field of human development and in consolidating stability in countries emerging from conflicts and wars

On the sidelines of the symposium, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations announced the launch of the fifth edition of the Qatar Global Award for Dialogue Among Civilizations 2025-2026, under the title: The role of youth in achieving civilizational advancement and promoting human communication. It is in cooperation with the ICESCO Chair in Alliance of Civilizations at the Qatar University’s College of Sharia and Islamic Studies.