News Highlights – Thursday, January 28, 2021 News Contents COVID-19 Pandemic ...... 3 ...... 3 ⚫ Some 18 Top Military Officials Defected To TPLF Clique Arrested ...... 3 ⚫ Expulsion Of TPLF Junta Mortifies Those Who Won’t See Unified Ethiopia: Somali Deputy President...... 3 ⚫ DPM, FMoE confers with EU Ambassadors and representatives of European countries ...... 4 ⚫ Former PM Delivers Special Message from PM Abiy to Kenyan President ...... 4 ⚫ Saudi Arabia offers border crisis mediation between Sudan, Ethiopia ...... 4 Horn of Africa ...... 5 ...... 5 ⚫ Somalia threatens to leave IGAD over Kenya dispute ...... 5 ⚫ Somalia's Minister of Women says lawmaker quota for females too low ...... 6 ⚫ Somalia criticizes 'one-sided report' on row with Kenyans ...... 7 Sudan...... 7 ⚫ Al-Ta’ayeshi: Sudan will Remain Keen for Peaceful Solution to Border Issue with Ethiopia ...... 7 ⚫ Sudan dispatches delegations to regional countries to clarify situation of borders with Ethiopia ...... 8 South Sudan ...... 9 ⚫ Kenyan president urges South Sudan leaders to expedite peace process ...... 9 ⚫ Somalia rejects probe report on tiff with Kenya - ...... 10 Gulf Region and the Middle East ...... 11 ⚫ Article: breakthrough in Libya, or just too much ado about nothing? ...... 11 Emerging Powers ...... 12 ⚫ Biden administration puts a freeze on Trump-era arm sales overseas ...... 12

COVID-19 Pandemic Region Infections Deaths Recoveries Globe 101.45 million 2.18 million 73.34 million Africa 3.51million 88,095 2.98 million Ethiopia 135,045 2,083 121,594 Follow live updates on worldometers.info/coronavirus/ ______Ethiopia ⚫ Some 18 Top Military Officials Defected To TPLF Clique Arrested – Fana Some 18 top military officials who defected to the TPLF clique and fighting alongside the Junta have been arrested today, the Ethiopian National Defense Force announced. Head of Indoctrination Department at the Ethiopian National Defense Force, Maj.-Gen Mohammed Tessema said the arrested military officials were leading the war waged by the TPLF clique and fighting against the national army alongside with the Junta forces from Mekelle to Qola Tenbein fronts. The Indoctrination Head explained that the defectors have been captured in close manhunt and raid undertaken by joint forces of National Defence Force and Federal Police. Out of the total military officers, nine are full Colonels while the remaining seven are Major Generals and two others commanders of Police. Major General Mohammed further called up on forces that are still in allegiance with the TPLF Junta to peacefully surrender to the federal forces. The people have been continuing support to federal forces in the search for culprits of TPLF Junta. It is to be recalled that top military officials who were in allegiance to the Junta including General Mohammed Isha have so far surrendered to the government forces.

⚫ Expulsion Of TPLF Junta Mortifies Those Who Won’t See Unified Ethiopia: Somali Deputy President - Fana Deputy President of Somali Regional state, Mustafa Mohoumed Omer said the expulsion of the TPLF Junta is embarrassing those who won’t to see unified Ethiopia. There were elements who were calculating their political gain through instigation of communal violence among peoples of Ethiopia, he said, adding that these forces have been now embarrassed with what happened to the TPLF Junta. Deputy President of Somali region stressed that TPLF Junta was mastermind of atrocious forces that were trying to destabilize Ethiopia though their malicious deeds. Saying that there are elements who are upset with riddance to the TPLF Junta, Mustafa said Ethiopians should not allow malicious thoughts against national unity to resurrect. Prevailing calm in the Somali region clearly indicates how the people of the region honor the value of peace, the deputy president noted. ⚫ DPM, FMoE Demeke Mekonnen confers with EU Ambassadors and representatives of European countries – Walta Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia met today with EU Ambassadors and representatives of European countries to discuss issues of mutual concern. On the occasion, Demeke delivered a detailed briefing on the humanitarian assistance efforts that the government and pertinent bodies are undertaking in the Tigray region. In this regard, he said food and non-food items, including pharmaceuticals, are being delivered to people in Tigray identifying their needs and facilitating the delivery through the 92 distribution centers. He said various government agencies, international humanitarian organizations, and aid agencies are collaborating well in rendering humanitarian relief services in the region. Telecom, banking, electric power supply, and other basic services have been reactivated and resumed functioning coupled with the government’s efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild destroyed infrastructures Demeke said. He said the interim administration of the region is also functioning well and is undertaking its normal duties in all areas of the region with close consultation and collaboration with the federal government. Regarding the allegations of human rights abuses, Demeke reiterated the government’s commitment to probing into the issue. The Deputy Prime Minister also addressed the ambassadors’ concerns on the upcoming general election in the country and other regional issues. The ambassadors appreciated Demeke for addressing their concerns. The meeting ended with an agreement to work closely and continue engagements. ⚫ Former PM Delivers Special Message from PM Abiy to Kenyan President – Fana Former Ethiopian Prime Minister has delivered a special message from Prime Minister to Kenyan President . Hailemariam, who is also a Special Envoy of PM Abiy, briefed the President on the current situations in Ethiopia, including the latest development in Tigray region. President Kenyatta welcomed the measures being taken by the Ethiopian Government in addressing the humanitarian situation in the region. The former Premier was accompanied by Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador , and Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Meles Alem. The meeting was also attended by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo. ⚫ Saudi Arabia offers border crisis mediation between Sudan, Ethiopia - Middle East monitor A high-level Sudanese delegation headed by Sovereignty Council member Mohamed Al- Faki Suleiman on Wednesday began a one-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss the border crisis with Ethiopia. Sudanese newspaper Al-Taghyeer reported: "A member of the Sovereignty Council will give the Saudi leadership a briefing on the situation in Sudan, especially on the Sudanese-Ethiopian borders dispute and relations with Ethiopia," noting that Suleiman is accompanied by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Nasreddin Mufreh and Director of the General Intelligence Service General Jamal Abdul Majeed. Relations between Sudan and Ethiopia have been tense in recent weeks due to armed attacks on the borders between the two countries, which Khartoum accuses Ethiopian militias of launching. denied the accusations, asserting that it is closely following the aggression initiated by local armed groups on the Ethiopian-Sudanese border. Spokesperson for the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dina Mufti announced on Tuesday that his country is committed to reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis, but wants Sudan to withdraw, stressing that: "Our precondition to enter negotiations is Sudan's retreat to the lands it has been controlling previously," reported the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). Mufti praised the initiative of the involved parties wishing to settle the conflict with Sudan, emphasising that Addis Ababa: "Is always ready to settle border issues through the conventional mechanisms, which have already been planned." The Sudanese Sovereignty Council disclosed in a statement: "The deployment of our armed forces in the border area is standard procedure," adding that "Sudan does not wish to take measures that could affect relations with Ethiopia," according to Al Arabiya TV channel. The Sudanese Minister of Defence General Yassin Ibrahim Yassin stated on Monday that: "Ethiopian attempts to stall is a common factor hindering the Renaissance Dam negotiations and the dispute over Al-Fashaqa area." Yassin divulged in an interview with Al-Hadath TV channel: "The talk of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about disputed areas was the reason why the Sudanese army sought to control the Sudanese lands in accordance with the agreements in force." ______Horn of Africa

Somalia

⚫ Somalia threatens to leave IGAD over Kenya dispute -Hiiraan Somalia on Wednesday threatened to withdraw from a regional bloc after the group ruled in favour of Kenya in a diplomatic row between the two countries. A fact-finding mission was created by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) last month seeking, in an intervention aimed at easing tensions between the two neighbouring countries. On December 15, Somalia cut diplomatic ties with Kenya and wrote to the regional bloc of eight members, demanding an independent mission to verify claims that Kenya was arming and training militia to fight the Somalia National Army forces stationed in Gedo near their common border. Led by Djiboutian Ambassador to Kenya Yacin Elmi Bouh and his counterpart to Somalia Aden Hassan Aden, the team that also included an IGAD observer, said they had found no evidence supporting violations by Kenya. On Wednesday, Mohamed Abdirazak, the Somalia Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister said his country will reject the report “in its entirety” because it the investigators had been “biased, partisan, unfair, compromised and predetermined to exonerate Kenya.” “Somalia strongly holds to all its initial accusations against Kenya and will pursue all means to protect her sovereignty,” Abdirazak said in a statement, threatening that his country will withdraw from IGAD. The report criticised Somalia for severing ties with Kenya, arguing the historical problems faced by the two countries could only be solved through deeper diplomatic engagements. The team visited Mogadishu, Nairobi and Mandera, but did not visit Gedo on the border with Kenya where fighting had been reported between the SNA and Jubbaland regional forces under Abdirashid Janan, who Mogadishu considers a fugitive. For its part, Kenya rejected all accusations by Somalia, including that the Kenya Defence Forces serving in the Mission had been abandoning their liberated bases to Al-Shabaab, as well as continual violation of Somali airspace. Kenya said on Wednesday that it feels vindicated. The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the findings of the team were proof that Somalia’s claims were a political ploy meant to distract the region from security issues. “The report of the fact-finding mission affirms the fact that the allegations by Somalia against Kenya are wholly unfounded,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry further said, “The impartial report definitively settles the matter, Kenya will not be drawn into the reckless campaign whose sole intent remains the creation of artificial fissures for parochial and domestic ends at the expense of regional peace and security and regional integration.” The fact-finding mission said there was insufficient evidence to show Kenya was hosting Somali militia and said Amisom, which regulates the movement of troops serving under the mission, had not indicated KDF unapproved movement. The envoys said they found that Janan’s troops were based inside Somalia under the command of the Jubbaland forces, rather than an outside entity. The commission suggested Janan’s forces had been ‘deposed’ by the federal forces following their deployment to Gedo last year and a continual disagreement with Jubbaland on the existence of national forces in Gedo. However, the team said this arrangement had no anomaly as Somalia’s nascent security architecture has since May 2017 accepted the existence of regional armies alongside the police, to strengthen battle against Al-Shabaab. ⚫ Somalia's Minister of Women says lawmaker quota for females too low - Hiiraan Somalia's prime minister this month announced a 30 percent quota for female lawmakers chosen in upcoming elections. If upheld by the clans, it would raise the number of female representatives in parliament by 6% — but women's groups see even that slight jump as doubtful in patriarchal Somalia. Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble's spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim, says that the prime minister has pledged to solicit the support of clan elders and all stakeholders in his efforts to reach the 30 percent quota. But Somalia's female activists remain skeptical that the male-dominated clans, who will choose lawmakers in the indirect election, will follow the government's lead. Jawahir Barqab, chairwoman of the Benadir Women Organization, says Somali male leaders' history of ignoring the importance of women's input has had clear costs. She says that since men killed each other, destroyed the country, and still do not agree, women have realized it is their turn to show leadership, beginning with the 30 percent quota in both houses of parliament. Women currently have 24 percent of the seats. Female leaders note that mothers and wives have played a key role in reconciling communities torn apart by years of conflict in Somalia. Hanifa Habsade, Somalia's Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, says that women are more than 50 percent of the population and deserve the right to equal representation in the executive and legislative branches of government. Women's rights are a new phenomenon in Somali culture, she adds, but women deserve more seats. The vote in Somalia is to take place by February 8, but may be postponed while political leaders try to finalize the election process. ⚫ Somalia criticizes 'one-sided report' on row with Kenyans -BBC Somalia has criticised a fact-finding report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), which dismissed claims that Kenya is funding militias engaged in clashes with Somali federal troops in the border area of Beled Hawo.Information Minister Abukar Osman Dubbe said the report relied on one side and did not collect any information from Somalia. The minister said the entire report is citing Kenya's Defence Minister Monica Juma. Mr. Dubbe said the report was released on 25 January, which is the day deadly fighting erupted in Beled Hawo town, near the Kenya border. The -led fact-finding special committee to resolve the diplomatic standoff between Kenya and Somalia was made up of a team formed by Djibouti President Ismael Guelleh. The team included diplomats and military chiefs. ______

Sudan

⚫ Al-Ta’ayeshi: Sudan will Remain Keen for Peaceful Solution to Border Issue with Ethiopia - SUNA The President of South Africa, Matamela , Wednesday received the visiting member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Mohamed Hassan Al- Ta’ayeshi, and discussed progress of the bilateral relations and was of consolidating them as well as issues of mutual concern. Al-Ta’ayeshi stressed at the meeting that Sudan will remain seeking a peaceful solution with Ethiopia and adherent to the borders of 1902. In a press statement, the Foreign Minister, Omer Gamar-Eddin, said that the meeting discussed regional and international issues and the issues of the border between Sudan and Ethiopia and the Renaissance Dam. He said that Al-Ta’ayeshi has stressed Sudan clear position that there shall be a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam. Gamar-Eddin said that the South African President has heard the accurate details and pledged to discuss the issue with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. ⚫ Sudan dispatches delegations to regional countries to clarify situation of borders with Ethiopia - Egypt Today In a bid to raise awareness on what is happening on the Sudanese-Ethiopian borders, Sudan is dispatching delegations to certain countries to clarify the situation. Member of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Mohamed Mohsen al-Taayoshy began on Tuesday an African trip that includes South Africa and Kenya in order to explain the stance of Sudan on Ethiopian attacks on its territories. As for Arab countries, Member of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Mohamed al-Faki Soliman headed to Saudi Arabia accompanied with Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Nas El Din Mafrah and Chief of General Intelligence Agency Gamal Abdel Meguid. In a statement Sunday on the dispute over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation revealed it “had made a diplomatic move to make the international community assume its responsibilities with regard to the Ethiopian threat putting half of the Sudanese people at risk.” The ministry indicated that Sudan still adopts the principle of African solutions for African issues by demanding a bigger role for African experts affiliated to the African Union (AU). However, the country also believes that the international community can contribute in persuading Addis Ababa to abandon its rigid stance on the issue. In the end, the ministry sent a message to Ethiopia saying that Sudan that had admitted its fellow African state’s right in building the dam, will not allow the filling and operation of GERD without a legal binding agreement that preserves the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens and the safety of Sudan’s establishments. Sudan does not accept a fait accompli in the case of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and has the means to respond with in such case, spokesperson of the Sudanese government Faisal Mohamed Saleh told Alsudani News website. Regarding an African mediation, Saleh said mediation in its traditional fashion is no longer feasible, hence the methodology should be changed, and the role of experts expanded or expanding mediation to allow other parties. “Negotiations is the only way; we do not want escalation. Our position is different from Egypt and Ethiopia. If any damage occurs, Sudan would be the part affected, so there must be an agreement that protects Sudan,” he said. “There are no official negotiations at this time. We do not want escalation,” he added. On Jan. 16, sokesman for the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Mohamed Suleiman has said that Sudan will not allow Ethiopia to impose its policy regarding the renaissance dam. Suleiman's remarks came at a press conference on Jan. 15, he added that Ethiopia is implementing its policy of filling the dam without any consultation and before reaching an agreement in this regard. He added that Sudan will not accept this Ethiopian stance. In mid-July 2020, Ethiopian authorities unilaterally carried out the first phase of the filling process with 4.9 billion cubic meters; and it is expected – as reported by the BBC- that the second phase of the filling would reach 13 billion cubic meters. The dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia dates back to May 2011 when Ethiopia started building the dam; Egypt voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters]. Three years later, a series of tripartite talks between the two countries along with Sudan began to reach an agreement, while Ethiopia continued the dam construction. In 2015, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles, per which the downstream countries should not be negatively affected by the construction of the dam. In October 2019, Egypt blamed Addis Ababa for hindering a final agreement concerning a technical problem, calling for activating Article No. 10 of the Declaration of Principles, which stipulates that if the three countries could not find a solution to these disputes, they have to ask for mediation.Washington had brokered a tripartite discussion between the three countries, in presence of the President of the World Bank (WB) starting from November 6, 2019 until February 27 and 28, 2020 when Ethiopia apologized for being absent from the negotiations. During these rounds of talks, tangible outcomes were agreed on among the three parties concerning the rules and mechanism of operating the dam and the filling process of the reservoir during the drought and prolonged drought; however, the Ethiopian and Sudanese refused to sign the US/WB-drafted deal. Constructions in the Grand Renaissance Dam started on April 2, 2011 at a cost of $4.8 billion. It was built by the Italian construction and engineering company Salini Impergilo. The Italian company is headquartered in Milan. The dam is located on the Blue Nile with a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, and is expected to generate up to 6,000 megawatts of power. ______

South Sudan

⚫ Kenyan president urges South Sudan leaders to expedite peace process - Sudan tribune Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged South Sudan leaders to expedite the implementation of the pending issues in the peace deal signed in September 2018. He made the remarks during a meeting with the United States Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ambassador Stuart Symington and his British counterpart, Bob Fairweather in Nairobi on Tuesday. The Kenyan leader cited the establishment of the legislative assembly and reforms in the security sector as some of the pending areas that require the attention of South Sudan leaders. He assured the two diplomats of Kenya’s continued support for the peace process in neighbouring South Sudan, saying his country will leverage on its United Nations Security Council membership to help the young nation and the region attain stability. The two envoys briefed the Kenyatta on the South Sudan peace process and thanked Kenya for its leading role in the long search for peace and stability in the young African nation and the region. Amb Symington said Kenya’s longstanding support has contributed to the progress made in the journey of returning South Sudan to the road of peace and stability. He, however, urged the Kenyan leader to continue giving the peace process positive influence by rallying South Sudan leaders to implement the remaining aspects of the Khartoum accord. The UK Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Bob Fairweather praised parties to South Sudan’s peace deal for taking bold steps to end conflicts and forge a stable, peaceful and progressive nation. The British diplomat assured Kenyatta that the Troika nations of Norway, the US and UK will continue working closely with Kenya and the region in search of sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan. In February 2020, the parties to South Sudan’s peace agreement formed a coalition government. Until now, however, there are several key unresolved issues, including the security arrangements and agreement on finalization of governance structures. South Sudan government and opposition forces should, as part of the September 2018 peace agreement, form one national army. At least 83,000 unified forces are expected to form the national army upon completion of training in cantonment sites within the country.

Kenya

⚫ Somalia rejects probe report on tiff with Kenya - Anadolu Agency Somalia on Wednesday criticized the findings of a fact-finding commission, saying that it found no evidence showing that Kenya was interfering in Somalia’s affairs. A report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an eight-country trade bloc in Africa comprising governments from the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley and the African Great Lakes, said Tuesday a team that investigated the issue also found that Kenya was not arming militants to attack and destabilize areas in Somalia along their shared border.“The commission considers that these grievances, some of which are longstanding, do not appear sufficient to justify a diplomatic separation between Kenya and Somalia. It is true that the federal government of Somalia is sovereign in its decisions,” a part of the IGAD report read. In a Wednesday statement, the Somali Information Ministry said: “The federal government of Somalia has described as unrealistic a report issued by the newly-appointed fact-finding committee on a case filed by the Somali government against the Kenyan government.” Somali Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism Osman Dubbe told reporters in the capital Mogadishu that the report was biased, adding: “The outcome of their report came as a shock to us. The report is one-sided. They [investigators] refused to go to the Somali territory. They went to Kenya twice, they went to Mandera. We wanted them to visit the Gedo region, but they refused to cross the border.” The head of the African Union on Tuesday urged Kenya and Somalia to exercise restraint, and de-escalate tensions along their borders. Somalia, a Horn of Africa country, has accused Kenya of supporting armed fighters who engaged Somali forces on Monday, a fight that claimed 11 lives. Kenya, however, has distanced itself from the allegations and said it wants the conflict to end.

______Gulf Region and the Middle East ⚫ Article: breakthrough in Libya, or just too much ado about nothing? - Middle East monitor Slovakia's former Foreign Minister Jan Kubis was approved as the United Nations' new Libya envoy almost one year after the last envoy, Ghassan Salame, resigned. He is number seven in almost ten years and will also head the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). In a statement announcing the appointment, UN Chief António Guterres conveyed a rather long and carefully written CV of his new envoy, not forgetting that the experienced diplomat speaks five languages, excluding Arabic. As is usually the case, Kubis's resumé does not mention any of his failures while working for the UN in countries like Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan, among others. To see how successful the UN has been in conflict resolution, just look at Afghanistan or Iraq today. What Kubis can do in Libya is yet to be known. However, it is almost certain that he will do very little to help stabilize the country and avoid another war, which increasingly appears inevitable. UNSMIL has so far failed to tackle Libya's political problem – the key to everything else. There are two reasons behind such failure, the first being foreign meddling in the country's affairs. Turkey, Russia, Egypt, France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to name few, are involved in the Libyan mess by supporting different quarreling sides. In fact, foreign rivalry in Libya is the driving force for war, not for peace. The UN, despite dozens of resolutions banning meddling, has until now failed to stop interfering in Libya.The second reason behind the failure, is that almost all Libyan politicians crowding the country's political landscape are mean figures acting as local proxies to foreigners. They care little about their countrymen, and Libya itself. They are well-paid, safe and able to flee the country whenever they want, while ordinary Libyans suffer. Dinosaurs and "kleptocrats" are the kinds of words recently used by Stephanie Williams, the current acting UN envoy, to describe Libya's disastrous politicians. Salame, her former boss, described them as "loot[ers]", as they loot the rich country in unimaginable ways. This might give Kubis a preview of the kind of people he will be dealing with, helping him to devise his own descriptions of them. To keep the positive political momentum going, Kubis might delay his takeover of UNSMIL to allow Williams time to see through her latest successful efforts in bringing Libyan protagonists to move forward. Her aim is to get a unity government up and running before leaving office – a task easier said than done. Between October 2020 and last week, Williams managed to resuscitate the peace process by making tangible progress. On 23 October, 2020, she had the 5+5 military commission agree to a ceasefire across Libya. The commission comprises an equal number of military officers representing the Libyan National Army (LNA) in eastern Libya, and the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. The agreement mandates the departure of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya by 23 January, 2021, the withdrawal of frontline troops and the opening of a coastal road connecting east and west. The deadline has passed, no foreigners have left, no roads have opened and troops are still facing off at the frontline. In the meantime, the Libyan Political Dialogue Form (LPDF) concluded its series of meetings last week in Geneva with a document that dictates how the new united government will be set up. UNSMIL, on 21 January, announced a one-week deadline ending on Wednesday to receive nominations for the Presidency Council and the prime minister. The idea is to have a three-member Presidency Council, instead of the current nine, with executive power shifted to an independent prime minister. Parallel to the LPDF meetings, delegations from the eastern-based parliament and Tripoli's Higher Council of State, a consultative body, met separately last week in Egypt and Morocco. In Morocco, the meeting produced an agreement on criteria governing nominations for the top sovereign jobs, and how to allocate them. The group in Hurghada, Egypt, agreed on the long- awaited referendum on the draft constitution. If passed, the new constitution will provide the legal basis for the national elections planned for 24 December. While this kind of progress came rather quickly by Libyan standards, it has the potential for disruption that could unravel the entire process. Failure at this stage could easily lead to yet another episode of violence.Furthermore, there are reports that the Russian Wagner Group fighters, supporting the LNA, are digging trenches around the Jufra Airbase close to Libya's oil fields, in what appears to be part of an extended stay. Turkey, supporting the GNA, never stopped supplying arms to the GNA and is said to be developing Al- Watiya Airbase, southwest of Tripoli.The 75-member LDPF will also have the final say when parliament and the Higher Council of State fail to agree on the new executive set up. This will render them both useless.Whether the incoming UN envoy will succeed in maintaining this momentum is doubtful. The main obstacles remain unchanged: the lack of strong UN Security Council support and the Libyan rivals' willingness to submit to regional and international powers as a way of maintaining the status quo.This means if Russia or Turkey are not happy with the new arrangements, they can disrupt it with ease by having their local proxies negate on any agreement by simply withdrawing from it, rendering it unworkable.Such failures do not necessarily mean that Kubis will fail, as expected, but rather that the UN is failing, as it has been, in assisting Libya ten years after it aided in its destruction. It also means that Libyan politicians are miserably disappointing their own people, as they have been since 2011. ______Emerging Powers US politics ⚫ Biden administration puts a freeze on Trump-era arm sales overseas - Fox News The White House has temporarily stopped arms deals negotiated under the Trump administration with several Middle Eastern nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The announcement comes just one day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was confirmed by the Senate, and is being touted as a "routine administrative action" as the new administration settles into their new posts. "The department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending U.S. defense transfers and sales under Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday. "This is a routine administrative action typical to most any transition, and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance, as well as ensuring U.S. arms sales meet our strategic objectives of building stronger, interoperable, and more capable security partners," the spokesperson added. The State Department has not confirmed which countries will see arms deal freezes, but a report by the Wall Street Journal Wednesday noted that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expected to be among the nations affected. The U.S. and the UAE entered into a $23 billion deal late last year that would provide the Middle Eastern nation with 50 F-35 jets and 18 armed drones, along with other security equipment. The agreement followed the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE in August – though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu originally called reports surrounding the arms deal "fake news." "The peace agreement with the U.A.E. does not include any clauses on the matter, and the United States clarified to Israel that it will always safeguard Israel’s qualitative edge," Netanyhu said in August. But UAE ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, confirmed the intended sale in a tweet Wednesday, and noted that the arms agreement helps the U.S. in maintain regional stability. "As in previous transitions, the UAE anticipated a review of current policies by the new administration," the ambassador said. "Specifically, the F- 35 package is much more then selling military hardware to a partner." "It also enables the UAE to take on more of the regional burden for collective security, freeing US assets for other global challenges, a long-time bipartisan US priority," he continued. Blinken similarly said the arms review was a matter of procedure in a Wednesday briefing. "Generally speaking, when it comes to arms sales, it is typical at the start of an administration to review any pending sales to make sure that what is being considered is something that advances our strategic objectives and advances our foreign policy, so that's what we’re doing at this moment," he said. Senate Democrats attempted to block the UAE arms agreement, citing concerns over the Arab nation’s involvement in Yemen – which is the scene of the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world, following years of civil war. Incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-Calif., said he welcomed the decision to freeze the arm sales, saying the agreement was "inexplicably rushed without thorough review of implications for U.S. national security and protection of innocent lives in Yemen." "I encourage the Biden administration to carefully consider the broader regional security implications of these sales and to consult with Congress as it continues its due diligence on these and other arms sales," Menendez said in a tweet Wednesday.