Latest news with #GovernmentofNationalUnity
Libyan Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Libya condemns Greek offshore drilling plans
BY Libyan Express Jun 20, 2025 - 01:12 Updated: Jun 20, 2025 - 01:14 Libya condemns Greek offshore drilling plans in disputed Mediterranean waters The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Libya's Government of National Unity has expressed deep concern over Greece's recent decision to launch an international tender for oil and gas exploration in maritime areas south of the island of Crete. The Libyan government maintains that some of the designated zones fall within contested waters and considers the move a 'blatant violation of Libya's sovereign rights.' In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said it had been closely monitoring developments published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 June 2025, which included details of exploration licences granted in areas that Libya regards as part of its disputed maritime boundaries. The ministry affirmed its 'full reservation and clear objection' to any exploratory or drilling operations in these areas, stressing that no activity should proceed without a prior legal agreement that upholds the principles of international law and protects the legitimate rights of all parties involved. Reiterating Libya's long-standing position, the statement underlined the country's commitment to preserving the Mediterranean Sea as a space for cooperation, peace, and mutual development among all coastal nations. It warned that 'unilateral actions serve only to heighten tensions and further complicate regional relations.' The Foreign Ministry urged the Greek authorities to act responsibly and to take into account the depth of historic ties between the two countries. It called for the adoption of dialogue and constructive negotiation as the 'only viable approach' to achieving fair and balanced solutions, grounded in international legal norms and respectful of the interests of all stakeholders. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libya Observer
a day ago
- Business
- Libya Observer
Libya's Foreign Ministry protests Greek bid round for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Libya's Government of National Unity has expressed deep concern over a report in the European Journal stating that Greek authorities have launched an international bidding round for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation permits in maritime areas south of Crete—some of which lie within contested zones with Libya. In a statement issued Thursday, the ministry condemned the move as a clear violation of Libya's sovereign rights, stressing its full reservation and outright objection to any exploratory or drilling activities in these areas without prior legal understanding that respects international law. The ministry emphasized that Libya has always sought to make the Mediterranean Basin a space for cooperation, peace, and shared development among all coastal states, warning that unilateral actions will only lead to greater tension and complications. The statement concluded by urging Greek authorities to act responsibly, take into account the deep historical ties between the two nations, and prioritize constructive dialogue and negotiation as the only viable path toward fair and lawful solutions that safeguard the interests of all parties involved. Tags: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Greece
Libya Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Anti-Government Protest Set for Friday in Libyan Capital
The Sons of Souq Al-Jumaa Movement has called for a mass protest in front of the headquarters of Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba. In a statement released on Tuesday, the movement urged 'all free Libyans' to participate in a large-scale demonstration on Friday outside the Prime Minister's Office on Al-Sikka Road in Tripoli. The organisers say the protest is a response to alleged normalisation with Israel, widespread corruption, and 'crimes committed against civilians'. 'It is time to speak with one voice: No to normalisation, no to corruption, no to the government of blood and shame,' the statement read. The group accused the GNU of 'betraying the sacrifices of the nation's martyrs' and of failing to protect civilians. It also described the government as a 'gang' that is 'selling the homeland and silencing dissent'. The movement called on men and women, young and old, to take to the streets and demand the immediate removal of the Dbeibah government. It also called for accountability for all those allegedly involved in crimes against civilians, and firmly rejected 'any attempt to drag Libya into foreign occupation or dependency'. The planned protest comes amid rising political tensions and public dissatisfaction with governance in western Libya. The GNU has not yet responded to the statement. While the GNU maintains it is working to stabilise the country and hold elections, critics have increasingly voiced concerns over its legitimacy, transparency, and international alignments. Tags: DemonstrationslibyaLibyan GovernmentProteststripoli
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
A stagnant economy: The driving force behind South Africa's unemployment crisis
The writer says that we cannot keep placing our economic hopes in the hands of a state that has repeatedly failed to deliver. Image: File THERE'S no denying that a misalignment between our education system and the demands of the economy is a driver of our unemployment crisis; it's been said often, and it holds up. We produce far too many graduates with qualifications that don't match what the market is looking for. Humanities graduates, in particular, tend to be cited as an example – and there's truth to this. However, to suggest that merely closing the skills gap will resolve unemployment is to oversimplify a much deeper crisis. This line of thinking implies that jobs are readily available, and that the only thing standing in the way is a lack of relevant skills. As appealing – and partly valid – as it may be, it doesn't capture the full picture. To be clear, aligning the education system more closely with the economy is undoubtedly important. It will improve the prospects of many graduates and create pockets of new employment. Nevertheless, the positive outcomes of such reform (in the broader picture) will likely be modest, and they won't come close to addressing the massive scale of unemployment that we're facing. Reframing the underlying issue The bigger problem – which we skirt around sometimes – is that our country just doesn't have enough jobs. Regardless of the skills they bring to the table, we have an economy that isn't creating nearly enough employment to absorb millions of people. As it stands, the most affected are those with little or no education, and those with qualifications that are oversupplied and out of sync with demand. But we would be making a mistake to assume that this crisis is limited to them. We're beginning to see signs that even those with in-demand skills are not as secure as many might think. The growing number of unemployed medical doctors, for instance, is not just an anomaly, but a warning. While this trend hasn't reached crisis proportions, it clearly indicates that no one is fully insulated from an economy that isn't growing at the level it should. All this points us to key questions that we should keep are: why is our economy failing to produce the jobs we so desperately need? What are the structural issues holding us back? And more importantly, how do we build an economy that can create employment for millions of South Africans and not just those with the 'right' skills? The answer to the first question is widely understood and requires no overstating. The ANC-led Government of National Unity (GNU) remains committed to an archaic and globally discredited economic orthodoxy that simply does not confront the structural roots of our unemployment crisis. To begin addressing this, we need to look at a few key areas that aren't silver bullets, but necessary foundations for any serious structural reform. Educational policy Political analyst Prince Mashele has consistently and correctly argued that fixing our education system must be a top priority. The dysfunction in basic education is well documented, but the deeper issue is that our entire system, from primary school through to college or university, is still poorly aligned with the practical and technical demands of our modern economy. We need to move away from an overly abstract approach to learning and focus more on what equips people to participate meaningfully in the economy. This shift needs to begin at the foundational level and not when learners are preparing to exit the system. Rethinking our growth formula The idea that the state must be central to any meaningful development or job creation strategy is taken as gospel in many circles. But ironically, it is this very gospel that has failed and lies at the heart of many of our economic problems. As Senior Associate of the Free Market Foundation (FMF) Nicholas Woode-Smith has often argued, it is the market, and not the state, that has the capacity to drive growth, innovation, and employment, provided the environment allows it. This environment must obviously be created by the state, but it must understand that its role is to facilitate growth and not dominate the economy. A bloated and inefficient public sector cannot absorb labour at scale through unsustainable programs or endless grants. It also cannot micromanage growth into existence. What we need is a more open market that isn't shackled by red tape and labour laws that protect incumbency at the cost of flexibility. The notion of "exploitation" that is often used to undermine this credible argument isn't only a subjective judgment, but also a distraction from the fact that real job creation demands dynamism. Even the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is often misrepresented as a successful model of state-led growth, actually built its economic miracle on the back of aggressive liberalisation and global market integration. We would do well to take note of this. Attracting foreign investment If investment is the oxygen of a growing economy, then ours has been gasping for breath for years. As political economist Phumlani Majozi has long warned, our country is not an attractive destination for substantial investment. Some of the reasons for this are not obscure. They include rampant crime, a financially repressive policy framework in Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), infrastructure deficits, and ongoing energy insecurity. Taken together, these factors largely explain why foreign investment has not been flowing in. Naturally, the aforementioned challenges are only part of a much larger picture. There are other vital pillars of structural reform that receive far less attention than they should. Through its Liberty First policy initiative, the FMF, in line with core research findings of the annual Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) report, has identified five of them. Three of them – sound money, free trade, and secure private property rights – are especially worth highlighting here. Liberty first A stable currency is crucial for long-term investment and planning. Without it, both individuals and businesses struggle to make meaningful decisions about saving and investing. Free trade creates access to new markets, lowers costs, and increases consumer choice. Yet unfortunately, our country continues to lean more towards projectionist measures that do more harm than good. The third pillar, and arguably the most urgent, is the protection of private property rights. The recent signing of the Expropriation Act into law is deeply concerning and constitutes a direct attack on the very property rights of all South Africans. As FMF Head of Policy Martin Van Staden has recently posited, "nil compensation" is nothing but a formal and euphemistic way of saying zero. Worse still, the Act opens the door to abuse by allowing expropriation under the vague and sweeping label of "public interest". This creates legal ambiguity and deters much-needed investment. Without secure private property rights, our economy will remain stagnant and start to regress as productive activity slows and whatever little capital we have left flees. Ayanda Sakhile Zulu holds a BSocSci in Political Studies from the University of Pretoria and is an intern at the Free Market Foundation. Image: Free Market Foundation
Libya Observer
2 days ago
- Sport
- Libya Observer
Libyan football league's championship round to be held in Italy for 2nd year in a row
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has officially announced that the championship round of the Libyan Premier League will be held in Milan, Italy, for the second consecutive year. The event is being sponsored by the Government of National Unity, in direct coordination with the Italian Football Federation and with support from the Italian government. The LFF confirmed that it had started, in collaboration with Libyan governmental entities, completing the necessary administrative and technical arrangements to organize this major football event, which represents the decisive stage of the sports season. The Ministry of Sports has started coordinating with the relevant Italian authorities to ensure the best conditions and facilities for the success of the tournament. Meanwhile, the LFF also noted that it would soon begin implementing the specific procedures for the clubs participating in the league, according to regulations and conditions that will be announced in due course. Tags: Libyan Football Federation Libyan Football League
