Port Sudan blames Haftar militia for RSF border assault

 

PORT SUDAN – Sudan’s de facto Foreign Ministry, operating from Port Sudan, has accused a Libyan militia affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar of launching a joint attack with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sudanese military positions along the east northern border.

The statement described the assault as a serious escalation in foreign involvement in the conflict, aiming to seize control of the strategic Sudan-Egypt-Libya border triangle.

According to the Ministry, fighters from the “Salafi Brigade”, linked to Haftar’s forces in eastern Libya, crossed into Sudanese territory and took part in the offensive alongside RSF units. The ministry warned that the move reflects growing external aggression allegedly backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The direct involvement of Haftar’s forces in Combat alongside the terrorist militia, within Sudanese borders, represents a dangerous escalation of the Abu Dhabi regime-sponsored external aggression against Sudan,” the statement read.

Port Sudan authorities claim the RSF has relied heavily on weapons and fighters funneled through Libya, with Haftar’s forces acting as intermediaries. The ministry said the recent direct involvement followed “Successive defeats” of the RSF, prompting its foreign backers to intervene more openly.

Calling the attack a violation of international law and the UN Charter, the ministry criticized what it described as international inaction.

“The UN Security Council and Western powers’ inaction in the face of the continuous, overt, and documented role of the militia’s sponsor and its proxies in the region in fueling the war has encouraged them to directly join the fighting,” the statement said.

Port Sudan authorities appealed to the UN, African Union (AU), and Arab League to condemn the cross-border assault and respond to the growing threat to Sudan’s sovereignty and regional stability. “It is imperative that urgent measures are taken to confront this dire situation and to deter the aggressors,” the ministry said

The ministry also asserted Sudan’s full right to defend it territory by any means necessary.

Since war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, officials operating from Port Sudan have consistently alleged that the RSF depends heavily on Foreign mercenaries to sustain its operations.

These accusations have often pointed to the involvement of external powers, with particular focus on the role of the UAE . Authorities claim that the RSF has received extensive logistical and military support through regional networks, enabling the flow of weapons, equipment, and fighters.

They argue that such backing has fueled the conflict and undermined efforts to restore stability.