China accused of exploiting COVID Aid to arm Haftar

Canadian authorities have accused Chinese officials of plotting to evade UN sanctions by smuggling military drones to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar under the guise of COVID-19 aid, according to a report by Defense News.

A Canadian investigator claims that Chinese government officials planned a $1 billion deal to deliver 42 drones to Haftar,using corrupt UN officials as intermediaries. The alleged strategy involved using designated companies to obscure the direct involvement of government agencies in the sale and delivery of military equipment.

Last April, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police charged two individuals, Fathi Al-Mawak and Mahmoud Al-Sayeh, with the illegal sale of Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya. Both men worked for the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency based in Montreal, and allegedly exploited their positions to circumvent international sanctions.

Al-Sayeh, who remains at large and is the subject of an Interpol red notice, is accused of orchestrating a complex scheme to conceal the identities of buyers and sellers of military equipment. Al-Mawak, who allegedly facilitated the purchase of oil, has been arrested.

The allegations highlight the challenges faced by international organisations in preventing the illicit trade of military equipment, particularly in conflict zones like Libya.