A protest marched through the streets of central Tripoli, calling for a referendum on the constitution, and for elections, chanting against the Government of National Unity (GUN) and demanding the departure of all political bodies. In Al-Jazaer (Algeria) Square in the center of the capital, protesters also voiced their rejection of what they described as “family rule” and “military rule,” stressing their opposition to both. The demonstrators called for a constitutional referendum and an end to the transitional phase the country is going through. Meanwhile, a number of residents of the city of Misrata organized a protest rally demanding the dissolution of all political bodies in the country. The protesters also condemned the conditions in the country and the serious deterioration of the economic, security, and social situation.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri travelled to Tripoli early on Saturday morning to attend a remembrance ceremony in honour of General Muhammad Ali Ahmad Al-Haddad, who died along with other officials in an a plane crash in Turkey. In a statement, the ministry said the visit was as a gesture of respect reflecting the strong and growing relationship between Malta and Libya. On Christmas Eve, General Mohammed Al-Haddad was among eight people who died after a Maltese-registered private jet crashed near Ankara. During the ceremony, Camilleri conveyed condolences on behalf of the Maltese government and people to Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the leadership of the Libyan Ministry of Defence, the Libyan Army and the people of Libya. General al-Haddad had served as Libya’s army chief of general staff since August 2020 and was a key figure in UN-backed efforts to reunify the country’s divided military.

TRIPOLI/ANKARA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Libya held official ceremonies on Saturday to receive the bodies of its late army chief of staff Mohammed al-Haddad and his companions, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye earlier this week. The remains were flown to Tripoli International Airport, where they were received by senior Libyan officials including head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, the Libyan News Agency reported. Dbeibah pledged a thorough investigation into the crash, saying Libyan authorities are working closely with Türkiye to uncover the full circumstances, it reported. Al-Haddad and four other Libyan military officials were killed on Tuesday when their business jet crashed south of Ankara. The country is split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and the eastern administration backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of Khalifa Haftar.

The Waddan area in the southwestern region witnessed, on Saturday, a celebration marking the release of a herd of gazelles into the adjacent valleys of the area, for the second time in six months. The event was organized by the Waddan Wildlife Association with the aim of preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance in the region. The herd consisted of 15 gazelles, including nine females and six males. Some of them had previously been captured from various areas of Al-Jufra, while others were born in captivity and raised on private farms in the city of Wadan. On June 21, the first batch of gazelles was released in the Wadi Al-Hissan area, one of the sites belonging to the Waddan mountain range.

Cairo hosted a joint Egyptian–Libyan workshop that focused on several key themes, including the transformation of primary health care, the presidential initiative “The Golden Thousand Days” for the development of the Egyptian family, the promotion of health equity, the expansion of digital solutions and mobile health applications, as well as the development of environmentally friendly health services that are inclusive of refugees. A delegation from the Ministry of Health of the Government of National Unity participated in the event. Al-Alfi reviewed Egypt’s experience in developing primary health care through a comprehensive transformation of approximately 5,400 health units, with a focus on the most underserved areas, and the preparation of a unified operational manual to be converted into an electronic application to support quality and accreditation. She emphasized that the "Golden Thousand Days" initiative has brought about a qualitative shift in promoting natural childbirth and spacing between pregnancies, alongside a noticeable improvement in women’s awareness. She concluded by stressing the launching of a digital platform to analyze health services data, which supports decision-making based on accurate indicators and contributes to the sustainability of digital transformation in the primary health care system.

Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has received the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Selçuk Oğlu, in Tripoli, where he offered condolences over the death of Marshal Mohamed al-Haddad and several of his colleagues in a recent plane crash. General Oğlu conveyed condolences on behalf of Turkey’s leadership and praised al-Haddad’s role in building Libya’s military institutions and strengthening security cooperation between the two countries. Dbeibah described the visit as a reflection of the depth of Libyan-Turkish ties, saying cooperation would continue under existing agreements, particularly in security and defence. He added that investigations into the crash are ongoing in coordination with Turkey and vowed full transparency. Libya’s government said the talks form part of broader strategic coordination between Tripoli and Ankara.

A French diplomatic source has revealed that two French nationals were among the crew members of the plane carrying the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Lt. Gen. Mohamed al-Haddad, which crashed Tuesday evening in Ankara, killing all passengers onboard. The source told AFP on Friday, "Two of our nationals, members of the crew, died in the accident that occurred on December 23 in Turkey," without disclosing their identities. "The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is in contact with the families through our embassy in Turkey and the Crisis and Support Center."

"We will use our voice and also the voices of our friends and neighbors to help our local elected leaders forge a path toward a brighter future." Learn more about our values at: DNRonline.com/values .

The cargo ship "Ak Glorio" has arrived at the port of the Sirte Free Zone on Friday, coming from Ukraine carrying 7,500 tons of wheat designated to feed the new flour mill in the city of Sirte. The media office of the Sirte Free Zone stated that the relevant authorities have begun unloading the cargo in preparation for its gradual transfer to the factory's warehouses, signaling the commencement of actual production at the new factory located in the Zafran district. The measure is part of a series of economic support projects being implemented by the National Development Authority, within the framework of its efforts to enhance food security and support the stability of supply chains, the media office added.

The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has received a shipment of routine vaccines donated by the American company MSD, via Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli. NCDC explained that the shipment was transported by refrigerated trucks, equipped according to the highest approved cold chain standards, to the cold chain warehouses of the Pharmacy, Equipment, and Medical Supplies Department at the Center. This is in preparation for completing the necessary technical and administrative procedures before distribution to various cities and regions throughout the country. NCDC confirmed that the remaining shipments will arrive successively, in the coming period, ensuring the fulfillment of national vaccine needs and maintaining strategic reserves, in support of the state's efforts to protect public health and promote disease prevention.

Libya has held a military ceremony for senior military officers, including army chief of staff Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, killed in a plane crash in Turkiye earlier this week. The bodies of eight victims arrived at the Defence Ministry in Tripoli for the military ceremony after a similar event was held in Turkiye earlier on Saturday. Earlier on Sunday, Turkiye held a military ceremony at Murted airbase outside Ankara to honour the delegation. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementTurkiye has been the main backer of Libya’s western government but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based administration as well. Traina said it will be “extremely difficult” for Libya’s western government to find someone as respected to replace al-Haddad, who had chaired a UN-backed truce committee.

The House of Representatives (HoR) committee on planning, finance and the state budget has held talks with Libya's Central Bank (CBL) Governor Najy Issa on financial arrangements linked to the country’s 2026 state budget law. The meeting took place at the House's branch office in Tripoli, chaired by committee head Omar Tantoush and attended by the rapporteur, Amer Omran, and several committee members. According to parliament spokesman Abdullah Blehiq, discussions focused on curbing growth in public spending, reducing the import component of the budget, and improving revenue streams to the state treasury.

An official ceremony held at Murted Air Base Command for Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, accompanying passengers and crew members in Ankara, Dec. 27, 2025. An official ceremony was held for Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, four accompanying passengers, and three crew members in Ankara, Türkiye, Dec. 27, 2025. An official ceremony held at Murted Air Base Command for Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad and others, in Ankara, Türkiye, Dec. 27, 2025. Gen. Mahmoud Juma al-Gitewi, adviser to the Libyan chief of general staff Mohammed Assawi, and photographer Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub. An official ceremony held at Murted Air Base Command for Libyan Chief of General Staff General Mohammed Ali Al-Haddad, accompanying passengers and crew members in Ankara, Dec. 27, 2025.

Iraq’s chargé d’affaires in Libya, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, says procedures have been completed to repatriate 72 Iraqi migrants who were living in the country without legal status. Speaking to the Rudaw media network, Al-Sahhaf said efforts are continuing to determine the whereabouts of dozens more Iraqis, in coordination with Libyan authorities. He said the embassy worked with security bodies handling irregular migration and the Anti-Illegal Migration Centre in Tripoli. Temporary travel documents were issued to the migrants and arrangements have been made for their return “soon”, he added. Al-Sahhaf reiterated warnings about the dangers of irregular migration.

Investigations into the plane crash that killed the Libyan Chief of Staff Mohamed Ali Ahmed al Haddad are continuing "with the utmost credibility and precision," in coordination with the Turkish authorities. Libyan authorities organized the funeral in the capital following the morning arrival of the remains of Al Haddad and his companions, transferred from Turkey following the completion of genetic identification procedures. The DNA tests were conducted by Turkish authorities through comparison with samples provided by the victims' families. The incident occurred last Tuesday, December 23, near Ankara, when the private Dassault Falcon 50 jet carrying a Libyan military delegation crashed shortly after takeoff. The investigation is being conducted in coordination with the Turkish authorities.