A new United Nations report has exposed a sophisticated logistical pipeline in Libya that fueled the war in Sudan with foreign fighters and equipment. According to the UN Panel of Experts, the Subul al-Salam Battalion—an armed group under the command of Libyan General Khalifa Hifter—facilitated the transfer of former Colombian military personnel, weapons, and fuel to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Operating from the southern Libyan town of Kufra, the battalion provided the RSF with a rear base for vehicle modifications and transit points for mercenaries. This cross-border support helped the RSF sustain battlefield advances, including the seizure of the strategic Uwaynat border triangle, where Sudan, Egypt, and Libya converge. However, it also compromised security along Libya’s southern frontier. Meanwhile, Hifter’s forces and the RSF have previously been linked to receiving support from the UAE, which Abu Dhabi denies.
AP