Relationship dossier
Libya
Sudan
Relationship assessment
A mixed relationship shaped by mediation, political engagement and episodes of conflict-related interference.
Libya toward Sudan
-5Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya hosted Sudanese opposition figures and took part in mediation efforts concerning Sudanese conflicts. The extent of subsequent Libyan government cooperation with Sudan is unclear.
Sudan toward Libya
-10Sudan supplied arms to Libyan rebels in 2011, opposing Muammar Gaddafi’s government. The scope of Sudanese government engagement with Libya’s later divided authorities is unclear.
Overall relationship
-5The relationship has included Libyan mediation and political engagement concerning Sudan, alongside Sudanese support for armed opponents of Libya’s government in 2011. This combination of cooperation and conflict-related interference makes the enduring bilateral relationship mixed rather than consistently cooperative or adversarial.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Libya–Sudan relations have combined periods of political engagement and mediation with allegations of interference in each other’s conflicts. Libya under Muammar Gaddafi hosted Sudanese opposition figures and was involved in efforts to mediate Sudanese conflicts. Sudan, in turn, supplied arms to Libyan rebels in 2011. These episodes point to a mixed relationship, while later developments are difficult to characterize across Libya’s divided authorities and Sudan’s changing political circumstances.
Areas of tension
- Sudanese support for armed rebels opposing Libya’s government in 2011.
- Allegations of Libyan involvement in Sudanese opposition movements and conflicts.
Key developments
Sudan supplied arms to Libyan rebels opposing Muammar Gaddafi’s government.
Libya under Muammar Gaddafi hosted Sudanese opposition figures and participated in mediation efforts concerning Sudanese conflicts.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral security and border arrangements are unclear.
- The degree of involvement by Libyan authorities in Sudan’s conflicts after 2011 is uncertain.