SADAT, a Turkish defense consultancy, has denied the allegations in a United Nations report that accused the company of violating an international arms embargo by deploying 5,000 Syrian fighters to Libya, according to the Sözcü daily.
The 548-page UN report, published in 2021, states that SADAT allegedly provided military training to Syrian fighters and supervised their deployment to Libya in support of the Government of National Accord (GNA). The report says these activities violated the UN Security Council’s 1970 resolution, which imposed an arms embargo on Libya, prohibiting the transfer of weapons, military equipment or related services to the war-torn country.
The UN report further claims that SADAT was responsible for paying these fighters and that the firm’s involvement in Libya was confirmed by multiple credible sources. Despite this, the company’s chairman, Melih Tanrıverdi, has strongly denied the allegations.
“We have no activities in Libya,” Tanrıverdi told Saygı Öztürk of the Sözcü daily. “When the UN asked for a response, we made clear that there was no such operation. However, despite our denial, the report still implies that we were involved based on unverified sources.”
Tanrıverdi pointed out that the accusations against SADAT are part of a larger campaign to tarnish the company’s reputation, adding that if the UN had substantial evidence, it would have imposed sanctions similar to those faced by the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company that has also been active in Libya.
SADAT, founded by the late brigadier general Adnan Tanrıverdi in 2012, has often been at the center of controversy due to its alleged role in advancing Turkish military interests in conflict zones across the Middle East and North Africa. The firm, which promotes defense collaboration among Islamic countries, has consistently denied any involvement in mercenary activities.
The 2021 UN report is not the only instance where Turkey has been accused of violating the arms embargo on Libya. The report details several other alleged violations by Turkey, including the transfer of advanced military equipment to Libya between 2019 and 2020. These include the delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems and other military hardware.
In addition to SADAT, the report implicates the Turkish military and private entities in transporting military materiel to Libya, often under the guise of civilian shipments. One notable case involves the Tanzanian-flagged vessel Cirkin, which was reportedly escorted by Turkish military assets while delivering prohibited military equipment to Libya in 2020.
The allegations against Turkey and SADAT come amid broader concerns about the role of foreign powers in Libya’s prolonged conflict. The UN has called for greater international adherence to the arms embargo, warning that continued violations could further destabilize the region.
While the UN reports do not carry immediate punitive measures, they serve as critical documents that can be used as evidence in international legal proceedings, including cases before the International Criminal Court.
The Turkish government previously dismissed similar claims, asserting that all military support provided to Libya was in accordance with international law and aimed at stabilizing the country.