New audio leaks of recorded telephone calls said to be from the Egyptian president’s office appear to show the involvement of both Egypt and the UAE in the transfer of arms to Libya.
Egypt’s Mekameleen satellite network, which aired the recordings, claimed the recordings relate to a period when Egypt’s current President Abdel Fatah Al- Sisi was head of the military.
The alleged telephone conversation between Al-Sisi’s office manager, General Abbas Kamil, and UAE Deputy Chief of Staff Isa Al-Mazrouei reveals a discussion between the two officials to arrange the transfer of arms from the UAE through Egypt to Libya.
According to the new leak, the UAE has been funding Al-Qaqaa Brigades in Libya, supplying it with arms through Egypt with Al-Sisi’s help. The Egyptian president charges a commission for the transactions.
Al- Qaqaa Brigades was allied with supporters of former Libyan dictator Muamar Gaddafi’s regime before teaming up with Libya’s renegade General Khalifa Haftar.
According to the recordings, the Brigades are believed to have received 10 armoured vehicles in a first deal in 2012 and a further 200-strong armoured vehicles in a second arms deal concluded in July 2012.
The leaks also include a discussion over the arrival of a plane carrying Mohammed Dahlan and his Libyan aide to discuss an arms shipment designated for Libya through Egypt.