Renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar has hired African mercenaries to boost his Dignity Operation forces, London-based Alaraby newspaper reported.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a tribal source from Tobruk told the newspaper that 400 African mercenaries have already arrived in Tobruk to join Haftar's forces in their war in Benghazi following their failure to gain control of the city for more than a year now.

The rogue General announced his Dignity Operation in May 2014 in an attempt to control Benghazi, but he was met with stiff resistance from the city's Shura fighters. He also aims to set up a military council to rule the state, in a bid to repeat Egypt's scenario.

Benghazi has become a ghost town. Dignity war is still raging in many parts of the city while several thousands of locals have fled to other cities to escape the intense fighting.