According to a report released by Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on Wednesday, forces belonging to General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) trained Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in urban warfare during the period between February {plus|and} mid-April.
The newspaper quoted Libyan sources {plus|and} analysts as saying that Marshal Khalifa Haftar also “transferred important intelligence information” to the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagolo {plus|and} reinforced fuel supplies to them from the port of Benghazi.
This comes after Britain’s The Guardian, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Haftar provided Hemedti with {data|knowledge|information} about the Sudanese army’s intention to move against his forces days before the start of the fierce battles taking place in Sudan since April 15.
The Guardian added that Haftar’s son, Siddiq, conveyed this {data|knowledge|information} during a visit earlier this month to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
During that visit, Siddiq also obtained the position of Honorary President of the Sudanese Al-Merreikh Sports Club, which counts Hemedti as a benefactor, after a donation of $2 million.
Fuel {plus|and} supplies
Sources told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Haftar allegedly passed crucial intelligence to Hemedti, {plus|and} boosted fuel supplies from the Libyan port of Benghazi.
The report added that Haftar’s connection to Hemedti dates back to long before the fall of Sudan’s former President Omar Al-Bashir but that in recent years, these relations have become much warmer, in all likelihood due to the fact that the RSF sent fighters to Libya to help the LNA.
Haftar {plus|and} Hemedti are also suspected of collaborating on a number of highly lucrative smuggling operations. Adding that mid-level commanders established close personal ties, managing the transit of valuable illegal cargo between the two countries. The report noted that Sudan {plus|and} Libya are located on both sides of major trafficking routes for people, drugs, {plus|and} weapons.