Sudan’s RSF deny purchasing cell phone spyware

November 30, 2022 (KHARTOUM) –  The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan denied reports by some media that the paramilitary group acquired spyware to track mobile phone communications

The Haaretz reported on Wednesday that the RSF got a surveillance system similar to Pegasus spyware enabling the controversial militia to infiltrate a Smartphone and turn it into a surveillance device.

According to the newspaper, the Greece-based surveillance firm Intellexa run by a former Israeli military intelligence Tal Dilian, delivered last May a spy system to the RSF.

In a swift response to the report, the RSF issued a statement denying the “false allegations”.

“The Rapid Support Forces firmly state that all information contained in the report is baseless and inaccurate,”

The statement said the article was part of a campaign by “some quarters” to distort the RSF image.

Haaretz said that the shipment of the delivery of surveillance system was meant to remain secret.

“When news of its arrival reached Hemetti’s rivals the equipment was seen as so dangerous that an RSF commander speaking on condition of anonymity said it was smuggled out of Khartoum to the militia’s stronghold in Darfur to prevent its seizure by the army,” said the report.

There were reports that the RSF use a spy system run by the Russian mercenary group, Wagner.

The notorious paramilitary group is facing demands to merge it into the national army.

(ST)