Ethiopia is reportedly operating a secret training camp for thousands of fighters belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in neighbouring Sudan, according to an investigation by Reuters.
The development marks the first direct evidence of Ethiopia’s involvement in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.
Eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, told Reuters that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) financed the camp’s construction and provided military trainers and logistical support. This claim is also referenced in an internal Ethiopian security services note and a diplomatic cable reviewed by Reuters. The UAE Foreign Ministry denied any involvement, stating it was not a party to the conflict or “in any way” involved in hostilities. Reuters has not independently verified UAE participation.
The camp, located in the remote western Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese border, appears to provide the RSF with a fresh pool of soldiers as fighting intensifies in southern Sudan. Satellite imagery and sources familiar with the site show construction activity, including a drone ground control station at a nearby airport, picking up in October 2025.
Sudan’s civil war has caused widespread famine and atrocities, forcing millions to flee to Egypt, Chad, Libya, and South Sudan.
–ChannelAfrica/Reuters–
