Libya expels Sudanese diplomat over allegations of supporting militias
It noted that this action by Sudan violates Libya’s sovereignty and constitutes an interference in its affairs, adding that they formally informed the Sudanese military attaché that he is persona non grata.
“We, the Libyan government, firmly denounce that a Sudanese military plane has penetrated the Libyan airspace without an official permit from the Libyan government. The plane was carrying ammunition which had not been officially approved by the Libyan government,” the statement said.
The move came hours after the Sudanese army spokesperson Colonel al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad denied providing any military support to any Libyan militias.
Furthermore, the head of the military council in the Libyan city of Kufra Hamid Suleiman, who is also the commander of the joint Sudanese-Libyan border forces, denied that a Sudanese plane carrying weapons landed at the Mitiga airbase.
The Libyan news agency quoted Suleiman as saying that the shipment contained “military and logistical supplies to the joint force from the national army, which he chairs that is tasked with stationing at al-Owaynat and al-Sara points”.
He stressed that the shipment was unloaded in front of some military officers, chieftains, dignitaries and commanders of battalions in Kufra to refute any “rumours”.
Col. Sa’ad affirmed Sudan’s firm position of non-interference in Libya’s internal affairs and echoed Suleiman’s statement on the contents of the plane. He added that the radio exchange between the aircraft’s pilot and the airport’s control towers confirms the real mission of the plane which landed in al-Kufra.
