A participant at Tete Desert Rally Waddan 2024 was killed by a landmine explosion in one of the cars participating in the rally, in an accident that is the second of its kind in less than 24 hours.
The spokesman for the Emergency Medicine and Support Center, Malek Marsit, announced in media statements the death of a person as a result of a mine explosion on Friday afternoon in the Waddan municipality, which is witnessing the activities of the rally in its tenth edition.
Marsit added that the first mine explosion, which occurred on Thursday evening, resulted in four injuries, including two critical cases who were transferred to Tripoli for treatment. He pointed out that a medical team of elite doctors and ambulance teams affiliated with the Emergency Medicine Center are present at the site to provide the necessary health services and care to the rally participants.
These explosions have sparked a lot of controversy about the presence of Russian Wagner forces in the Jufra region.
Human rights activist Hossam Al-Gumati said after the mine explosion in Waddan that international reports indicate the presence of Russian Wagner forces in the Jufra region, especially in the Jufra base, which includes the cities of Sukna, Hun, and Waddan.
Another blogger, Jalal Al-Gabi, confirmed that the race area is very close to the Jufra base and is fortified with mines, adding that approaching it is prohibited. He added on his Facebook page that Wagner forces have prevented the rally and drone flights in recent years and that it was moved to Ghadames at the time, stressing that the area is under the control of Wagner forces and has not witnessed any clashes before; therefore, the mines that exploded are fortifications built by Wagner forces and are not remnants of war.
