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Demonstrations in Tripoli protesting talks with Israel: Foreign minister suspended

August 30, 2023

(Northern Africa) (3 minutes read) (Global)

Several people took to the streets of Tripoli, Libya’s capital in protest after foreign minister Najla al-Mangoush was suspended on charges that she had held talks with her Israeli counterpart last week in Rome

Several people took to the streets of Tripoli, Libya’s capital in protest, after foreign minister Najla al-Mangoush was suspended on charges that she had held talks with her Israeli counterpart last week in Rome.

Mrs. Mangoush has been subjected to an administrative inquiry by a commission chaired by the Minister of Justice, announced, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s government in a statement. The Foreign Ministry described the meeting as an unofficial and fortuitous encounter that did not involve any discussion, agreement, or consultation, adding, that Mrs. Mangoush had refused to hold talks with any party representing the Israeli entity and reiterated in a clear and unambiguous manner Libya’s position regarding the Palestinian cause.

The Libyan ministry also denounced the exploitation by the Israeli and international media of this incident. The ministry deplored the stand of the international media, which is trying to present as a meeting or talk. According to reports, in January 2022, Mossad Director David Barnea and Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah met in Jordan to discuss normalization and security cooperation. Although the meeting was publicized by the Saudi and Libyan media, Dbeibah subsequently denied its existence.

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa claimed victory in the country’s election after challenging official results that saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa winning a second term in office. Observers reported an atmosphere of intimidation against voters.

The election observers said they had specific concerns in this vote over a ruling party affiliate organization called Forever Associates of Zimbabwe that they said set up tables at polling stations and took details of people walking into voting booths. The head of the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, said the FAZ activities should be declared “criminal offenses.”

The SADC mission in a statement on August 25 said some aspects of the election fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).

According to official figures, the 45-year-old lawyer and pastor of the Citizens Coalition for Change won 44% of votes as over 69% of registered voters cast a ballot. People in the country of 15 million were bound to view the results with suspicion but Mnangagwa, 80, dismissed allegations of vote fraud.

Voting was extended last week into an extra day following a shortage of ballot papers, especially in opposition strongholds. Chamisa had challenged his 2018 election loss to Mnangagwa, but that was rejected by the Constitutional Court.