Al-Siddiq Haftar, the son of the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, said his recent visit to Sudan was not “ political in nature.”
During his visit, Al-Siddiq met with the Vice-President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti).
In statements to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Al-Siddiq said that he visited Sudan at the request of Sudan’s Al-Merrikh Football Club, which chose him as honorary President.
He denied reports that he had pledged to provide financial support to the Sudanese club. He indicated that he has promised to help the club obtain sponsors, who can provide the required support.
“Al-Merrikh is a historical club, and I respect it like other Arab clubs, but I did not travel to pay money; Firstly, because I do not have it, and secondly, clubs in Libya need more support at the current stage,” he explained.
He referred to his brief meeting with Hemetti, saying that it was “during a Ramadan Iftar banquet, at the request of the Presidency of the Sudanese Club. It did not include a discussion of any issue other than the club. Hemetti is considered a big supporter of Al-Merrikh FC.”
Al-Siddiq expressed his regret, “like any Arab citizen, about what is happening in Sudan.” He also expressed his hope that the crisis would “end in a way that serves the security and stability of Sudan.”
Notably, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), denied that Haftar supports any of the two sides of the conflict in Sudan.
Al-Burhan said, in press statements, on Saturday, that Khalifa Haftar “contacted me, and confirmed that his support for the other party (the Rapid Support Forces) is untrue.”
Al-Burhan added to Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath TV channels that the two parties to the conflict in Sudan must sit together to find a way out of the crisis.
Regarding the current position of the conflict, Al-Burhan said that “all airports are under the control of the army, except for the airports of Khartoum and Nyala,” pointing out, “I am currently in the command centre and I will only leave it in a coffin.”
Al-Burhan had previously announced that the necessary assistance will be provided to evacuate foreign nationals and diplomatic missions, against the backdrop of the bloody clashes that have afflicted the country.