Sudanese FM admits presence of Sudanese mercenaries in Libya
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Sudanese Foreign Minister Ms. Mariam el Sadiq el Mahdi has admitted the presence of Sudanese mercenaries in Libya.
Responding to a question from PANA on the sidelines of Thursday's international conference on supporting the stability of Libya, Ms. El Mahdi said: "Yes, Sudanese who work as mercenaries are present in Libya."
These soldiers are divided into two categories. The first one, which is in the minority, is composed of those who signed the Juba peace agreement with the Sudanese government which provides for a programme for their integration into society and their release.
The second category, which is the majority, is made up of Sudanese mercenaries who have no official link with the government, which has no authority over them, Ms. el Mahdi said.
But, she added, they will remain Sudanese citizens and the government has a responsibility to prevent them from posing a threat to Libya and ensure that their departure contributes to the consolidation of democracy and stability in Libya.
In this regard, Libya and Sudan have reached an agreement on their identification and repatriation.
The Sudanese head of diplomacy said that Sudan and Libya are represented in the Libyan Joint Military Committee (5+5) through which they have agreed on joint security mechanisms that enjoy broad regional and international support, as well as of neighbouring countries, on mercenaries.
These mechanisms include a clear plan, with a timetable, to identify these mercenaries and to reach an agreement with the Sudanese government for their repatriation so that they will pose no threat either to Libya or Sudan, Ms. el Mahdi said.
She added that this issue has been discussed in numerous meetings, the last of which was between the Vice-Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Mohamed Hamdane, and the Vice-Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Moussa al-Kouni, during the conference of neighbouring countries in Algeria.
-0- PANA AD/IN/JSG/SOC/BBA/MA 22Oct2021
