An investigative report published by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has revealed what it describes as a network of secret Emirati-operated training camps in eastern and southern Libya, allegedly used to train foreign mercenaries, including members of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in operating drones and heavy weaponry.
The investigation was produced by the Dutch investigative organisation Lighthouse Reports in partnership with specialists in visual investigations and open source intelligence. It draws on testimony from former RSF members and Libyan sources, alongside satellite imagery and videos published across social media platforms.
Four Previously Undocumented Training Camps
According to the investigation, researchers identified four previously undocumented camps located in areas controlled by the Libyan National Army under Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
The report alleges that RSF fighters receive training at these sites on operating drones, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers before being deployed to battlefronts inside Sudan.
One former RSF member, identified under the pseudonym “Ahmed” to protect his identity, told investigators he spent three months at what was known as “Camp 17” near Benghazi.
He said he received training on heavy weapons, including DShK heavy machine guns, rocket launchers and RPG systems.
Foreign Trainers and Alleged Emirati Funding
Ahmed claimed the instructors were neither Libyan nor Sudanese. Instead, they spoke English and had heavily tattooed bodies.
According to his testimony, recruits believed the instructors were Colombian mercenaries brought in with Emirati funding.
The investigation noted that previous reports had documented the recruitment of hundreds of Colombian mercenaries for operations in Sudan. Last year, the Sudanese government informed the United Nations Security Council that Emirati private security companies had participated in recruiting these fighters, allegations that Abu Dhabi has consistently denied.
Military Supply Hub
The former fighter also alleged that the camp served not only as a training facility but as a logistical hub where military supplies were stored before being transported into Sudan.
He said weapons, military vehicles and ammunition arrived regularly by aircraft.
Investigators said they corroborated these accounts through analysis of satellite imagery, aerial footage and thousands of videos published on TikTok, Facebook and Telegram. According to the investigation, the material shows RSF fighters operating inside Libya alongside evidence of close cooperation with the Libyan National Army.
Evidence from Vehicles and Military Equipment
The investigation also tracked Toyota Land Cruiser 79 vehicles at multiple locations across Libya.
According to the report, these are the same vehicle models previously linked by United Nations investigators to alleged Emirati weapons shipments destined for the RSF. Investigators argued that their repeated appearance in videos and at gathering points suggests the existence of an organised supply network.
Another former fighter alleged that Russian personnel oversaw operational command at one military base in the Jufra region of central Libya, while Libyan personnel handled administrative responsibilities.
Ahmed further claimed he saw armoured vehicles marked “Made in the UAE”, adding that all military supplies arriving at the camp were of Emirati origin and were flown into Libya before being transported onwards to Sudan.
Escalating Conflict in Sudan
The investigation comes as fighting continues to intensify across Sudan, amid reports that the RSF is preparing an offensive against the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan State, which has become one of the war’s main battlegrounds.
The Daily Telegraph noted that British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently warned the city was on the brink of “atrocities”, citing the growing use of drones and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Criticism of Britain’s Response
The investigation also highlighted criticism directed at the British government over its handling of the Sudan crisis.
During testimony before the British Parliament, Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University, argued that London had refrained from taking stronger action out of concern for its relationship with the UAE.
Raymond said Britain, as the country responsible for the Sudan file at the United Nations Security Council, still has the capacity to lead international efforts aimed at preventing further atrocities in Sudan.
Previous Investigations
The report follows a series of earlier investigations into alleged foreign support for the RSF.
In January 2024, investigative reports revealed a complex supply network allegedly used to transfer weapons to the RSF through Libya, Chad, Uganda and the separatist-controlled areas of Somalia.
Later in 2024, The New York Times reported that the UAE had allegedly smuggled weapons to the RSF under the cover of humanitarian aid.
In April this year, further reports alleged that the RSF received covert support from an Ethiopian military base in the city of Asosa in the Benishangul Gumuz region. Similar military vehicles were also documented at the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, where the UAE maintains a military presence.
Last month, Human Rights Watch reported that Colombian mercenaries contracted through a company based in the UAE had passed through Emirati military bases before being deployed to Sudan.
