RSF Lifeline Through Southern Libya

Supplies routed through the Kufrah airstrip helped the RSF recover after Sudanese army forces retook Khartoum in March.

Officials told Reuters that the air corridor was central to the RSF’s capture of al-Fashir in October, a turning point that allowed the group to consolidate control over much of Darfur and push southward.

Satellite imagery, flight-tracking data and social media footage reviewed by Reuters show the airport undergoing rapid renovation, including rebuilt hangars, increased ground infrastructure and a sharp rise in cargo aircraft activity since April.

Cargo Flights and Foreign Links

Analysts identified at least 105 cargo landings at Kufrah between April 1 and November 1, based on satellite imagery and flight records.

Several flights were operated by aircraft linked in past UN reports to arms transfers involving the UAE, though Abu Dhabi denies backing any side in Sudan’s war.

One Ilyushin-76 aircraft flew to Kufrah from Dubai on June 5, and later arrived from Bosaso in Somalia, another location where the UAE has security ties.

Two additional Ilyushin planes linked to Kyrgyz operators previously cited in UN investigations were also tracked landing at the airstrip.

Denials and Wider Implications

The RSF denies receiving Emirati support, while Libya’s eastern authorities say flights carried civilians and local security personnel.

The UAE has rejected accusations of supplying weapons, and Sudan’s army has filed complaints with the United Nations alleging the use of Libyan routes for mercenaries and arms.

Reuters’ findings suggest the Kufrah corridor has become a decisive logistics channel, illustrating how regional networks and cross-border supply lines continue to shape Sudan’s war.