On Saturday, the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized a shipment of weapons from Libya, and arrested four smugglers, including two Libyans.
“Our forces deployed on the border strip between Sudan, Egypt, and Libya, managed to seize a shipment of weapons, ammunition, and explosives coming from Libya,” the RSF said in a statement.
The RSF Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel, Ali Ahmed Mahmoud Awajeh, said the RSF units were dispatched to the Saif al-Barli area on the border triangle after receiving intelligence about the presence of arms-trading gangs in the area.
RSF patrols clashed with the smuggling gang three kilometers from Saif al-Barli area and pursued them.
“After the clashes, the forces confiscated two GMC cars carrying 36 Kalashnikov rifles and a box of Kornet grenades, Dushka cannon, RPG-7 launchers, and a large number of various other kinds of weapons,” the statement revealed.
Notably, the government in Sudan closed the country’s borders with Libya many times, citing security and economic risks. It has repeatedly complained of arms smuggling across its borders.
Last April, the Sudanese Security and Defence Council, the highest authority in the country, decided to monitor the borders to prevent the flow and spread of weapons. This occurred in the wake of violence that broke out in Sudan on April 3rd and lasted for more than a week.
However, the new Governor of the western Darfur region, Mini Arko Minawi, in August decided to re-open the borders for trade with Libya and other neighbouring countries.