Sudanese rebels operating in Libya: UN envoy

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM (AA) – UN envoy to Libya Martin Kobler said Sunday that Sudanese rebel groups have presence in war-torn Libya.

Speaking to reporters following talks with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, Kobler called for putting an end to operations by all rebel or foreign groups in Libya.

Libya has fallen into chaos in 2011 following the ouster and subsequent killing of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in a bloody uprising.

In January, a UN report said that two rebel groups driven out from war-torn Darfur province by the Sudanese military were operating in Libya and South Sudan.

"These groups are engaged in mercenary activities and, allegedly, in criminal activities in those countries," the report said.

There was no comment from Darfur rebel groups on Kobler's statements.

However, the Darfuri groups have repeatedly denied government accusations that they were fighting for mercenary purposes in Libya.

Kobler said his talks in Sudan tackled ways of bringing about peace and stability in Libya.

"We engaged in extensive discussion, in particular Sudan's security concerns regarding Sudanese rebels operating in Libya," he said.

"The international law is very clear that there shouldn’t be anti-government movements in another country," he stressed. "That is why the presence of Sudanese rebel groups inside Libya is a big and legitimate concern of Sudan."

The UN envoy's visit to Sudan is part of his efforts to prepare for a regional summit in Algeria next month on the situation in Libya.

Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Garib Allah, for his part, reiterated Khartoum's support for the peacemaking in Libya.

He went on to call on Libyan rivals to pursue dialogue to resolve the conflict in the North African country.