New report further exposes Libya’s role in Sudan conflict

Libya has become a central staging ground in a network supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a new investigation that sheds fresh light on the country’s role in sustaining the conflict across its southern border.

The investigation, published by Lighthouse Reports on June 29^th, in collaboration with Evident and Sudan War Monitor, examined how the United Arab Emirates used infrastructure and partnerships inside Libya to bolster the RSF, despite mounting international concern over the war in Sudan.

Previous investigations have detailed how eastern Libya has served as a vital logistical hub for the RSF, a conduit for UAE fuel, military supplies and personnel to move through territory controlled by the Libyan National Army before crossing into Sudan. The latest investigation provides new detail on how that support network operates on the ground, identifying previously undisclosed training camps and supply routes inside Libya.

Using open-source intelligence, satellite imagery and reporting from eastern Libya, the investigation identified four previously unreported RSF camps operating inside the country. The findings are based on interviews with Libyan National Army (LNA) officers, RSF defectors and Sudanese military sources, alongside analysis of thousands of social media posts documenting convoy movements, desert checkpoints and activity near the Libya-Sudan border.

Reporters travelled to Kufra, where they accompanied the LNA in the remote border region while investigating suspected RSF training locations and supply routes. During the visit, Lieutenant Enheish Fattah of the LNA’s Subul Al Salaam brigade rejected allegations that the force had facilitated RSF operations.

“No, that’s all rumours. People are trying to create conflict between the Libyan and Sudanese armies,” he said when questioned about clashes between the Sudanese Army and the LNA in the border region during 2025.

However, eight former RSF members interviewed by the investigation described a far more extensive operation inside Libya. They alleged that facilities ranged from transit points in Benghazi to larger desert camps where fighters received military training, vehicles were modified for combat and weapons were prepared before being transported into Sudan.

One defector identified a previously undisclosed training camp known as Camp 17, around 20 kilometres outside Benghazi. He claimed groups of between 40 and 80 RSF fighters were trained there by LNA personnel alongside Colombian contractors.

“There are many here in Camp 17. They are in charge of cars, supplies, and ammo and oversee delivery of them,” he said.

The same defector added: “RSF is mainly supported by the Emirates, but no one can speak up or ask.”

The investigation also cites analysis carried out by Conflict Insights Group, which examined commercially available advertising technology data. It said evidence suggested that at least two South American mercenaries were present at Camp 17 during the summer of 2025.

According to the report, Libyan authorities did not meaningfully engage with questions about the alleged activities inside the country or claims of collaboration with the UAE. The RSF also denied the allegations through a spokesperson interviewed in Nairobi.

The investigation concludes that Libya has become a significant logistical base in the wider conflict, while Sudanese refugees fleeing the violence continue to cross into the country after dangerous journeys.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, there are currently over 930,000 migrants inside Libya, with many of those coming from Sudan.

A report by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) found that migrants in Libya are routinely abducted or rounded up by trafficking networks, often linked to Libyan authorities, before being arbitrarily detained and subjected to abuses including torture, forced labour, sexual violence, slavery and extortion.

Fatima, a Sudanese mother of four now living in Kufra, described arriving with nothing after fleeing the war.

“When we reached Libya, we had nothing left. I have nothing left but my children and my honour.”

The allegations outlined in the investigation also point to a broader consequence for Libya itself. If the country continues to serve as a conduit for weapons, fuel and personnel into Sudan, it risks deepening the conflict that has displaced millions, while adding further pressure to Libya’s already fragile economy as more people flee across the border in search of safety.

Against that backdrop, rising anti-migrant sentiment and recent protests inside Libya reflects this growing domestic strain. The investigation by Lighthouse Reports is likely to intensify scrutiny of claims that forces aligned with Khalifa Haftar have helped sustain one of the principal drivers of the migration crisis, through their facilitation of UAE-support for the RSF.

Lighthouse Reports, IOM, OHCHR, Maghrebi.org