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Sudan ‘regret’ over Libyan consulate closure

July 28, 2017 at 3:42 pm

The Sudanese consulate in Kufra, Libya [Alwasat Libya‏/Twitter]

Sudan has expressed its “regret” at a decision by the east Libyan authority, backed by General Khalifa Haftar, to close its consulate over alleged people trafficking practices.

Khartoum’s foreign ministry released a statement this week stating that it would “further investigate” Libyan claims of malpractice by Sudan’s Consul-General Salah Ahmed Eid in the south-eastern city of Kufra and those of 11 diplomatic workers at the consulate.

The statement added that it “regrets the decision to close the Sudanese consulate in Kufra on the basis of unfounded accusations that some of the consulate staff have exceeded their normal duties”.

The east Libyan foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday that it closed the consulate due to “unconventional” practices by staff members.

Read: Hundreds of Daesh corpses await repatriation from Libya

Relations between Sudan and the east Libyan government have been frayed since the latter was expelled from Libya’s capital Tripoli by the pro-Islamist militia, Libya Dawn.

The eastern-based Thinni government accused Sudan of selling arms to rival group Libya Dawn which Khartoum categorically denied. Sudan’s embassy in Tripoli and consulate general in Benghazi were not affected by the decision due to them operating under a different authority.

Kufra has become known as a point of departure for people smugglers to transport migrants between Sudan and the northern Libyan ports.

Thousands of Africans have died attempting the perilous journey to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea with many also being held in detention centres which have become torture camps.

The EU has called on European states to do more to help with the flow of people attempting to make the dangerous journey and for Libyans to be better trained in dealing with the matter.