30/06/2020 – Sudan said Sunday it has arrested 122 of its nationals as they headed to neighbouring Libya to fight as « mercenaries », state media reported.
Libya’s UN-recognised unity government has long accused Sudan of sending fighters to back military strongman Khalifa Haftar who controls much of the country’s east.
Sudan, which shares a 330-kilometre (200-mile) border with southeastern Libya, denies the allegations.
State news agency SUNA on Sunday cited Brigadier Jamal Jumaa, spokesman for the Rapid Reaction Forces, saying that « joint security forces detained 122 outlaws including eight children who were heading to (fight as) mercenaries in Libya ».
SUNA published a video showing dozens of youths sitting on the ground, surrounded by military vehicles carrying soldiers armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles.
It said the video was shot in Al-Junayna, the capital of West Darfur province.
Sudan’s Foreign Minister this week denied that Sudanese forces were involved in the conflict in Libya.
In an interview with AFP, Asma Abdalla said: « We cannot get involved in a conflict in any neighbouring country. »
The New Arab
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)| Image utilisée juste à titre d’illustration : Mercenaries may have joined the fighting in Libya (Getty)
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali) 