The Sudanese army on Tuesday accused troops loyal to eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar of attacking border posts, marking the first time Sudan has directly accused Libya of military involvement in its two-year internal conflict.
The alleged attack occurred in the border triangle shared by Libya, Egypt, and Sudan, north of al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur and a key flashpoint in the war between Sudan’s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sudan’s military also blamed the RSF for taking part in the attack, adding to its longstanding accusations of foreign interference in the conflict. Early in the war, Sudan accused Haftar of supplying weapons to the RSF and has frequently alleged that the United Arab Emirates is supporting the group, including through drone strikes last month. The UAE has denied any involvement.
In response to the latest accusations, Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) denied carrying out any attack. Instead, it claimed its forces were targeted by a group affiliated with the Sudanese military while conducting routine patrols on Libyan soil.
“These allegations are a blatant attempt to export Sudan’s internal crisis and create a virtual external enemy,” the LNA said in a statement.
Egypt, a backer of Haftar in Libya, has consistently supported the Sudanese army throughout the ongoing conflict.
In its statement, the Sudanese military declared: “We will defend our country and our national sovereignty, and will prevail, regardless of the extent of the conspiracy and aggression supported by the United Arab Emirates and its militias in the region.”
The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has drawn in various foreign actors and caused widespread devastation. Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have so far failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire.
