Ethiopia hosts covert training base for Sudan’s RSF fighters: Reports – Firstpost

A new report has uncovered claims that Ethiopia is quietly running a camp to train thousands of fighters for the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful militia involved in Sudan’s civil conflict. The revelation points to an alarming escalation that could draw more regional powers into one of Africa’s most dangerous wars.

Growing signs of regional involvement

The existence of the camp is said to be the first clear indication of Ethiopia’s direct role in Sudan’s war. According to several officials and diplomats familiar with the matter, the facility is being used to prepare thousands of recruits from Ethiopia and neighbouring countries to fight alongside the RSF. The sources believe that the United Arab Emirates has financed the site, provided equipment, and supplied military instructors.

Although representatives from the UAE have rejected any connection to the conflict, insiders within Ethiopia have described a detailed security report that attributes logistical support and funding to the Gulf state. The camp reportedly represents a major development in the balance of power within Sudan, where battles have intensified in the southern regions.

Sudan’s war and its human toll

The war in Sudan started in 2023 after a confrontation between the national army and the RSF during a planned transition to civilian rule. What began as a political rivalry soon turned into a brutal war that has devastated towns, displaced millions, and spread severe hunger across the country. Refugees continue to flee toward neighbouring nations such as Egypt, Chad, Libya and South Sudan, creating one of the largest humanitarian crises in Africa.

Each side in the conflict has drawn support from international allies, raising concerns that the fighting could spill across borders. Several countries are believed to be providing covert assistance through weapons, training, or strategic coordination.

Detailed accounts of the alleged camp

Fifteen individuals familiar with the camp’s construction and operation, including Ethiopian officials and foreign diplomats, have described the site’s growing activity since last year. Satellite images have been studied alongside internal government documents and diplomatic messages, all pointing to the development of a large training complex in western Ethiopia. The camp is located in the remote Benishangul Gumuz region, close to the border shared by Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan.

Construction is said to have begun in April, with major expansion seen from October onward. Initial work involved clearing forest land and establishing metal roofed buildings. Later images showed hundreds of tents, supply vehicles, and heavy equipment arriving at the site. Observers described several long convoys of trucks transporting recruits toward the camp in November. By December, thousands of trainees were reportedly present, with new infrastructure continuing to appear well into January.

Numbers and leadership

Security documents claim that more than four thousand RSF fighters were undergoing training at the site in early January. The materials also identify General Getachew Gudina, head of the Defence Intelligence Department within Ethiopia’s military, as the leading figure behind the establishment of the camp. Officials and diplomats have confirmed his involvement. However, the general has remained unreachable for comment, and no public statement has been made by the Ethiopian government or the RSF.

Sources suggest that although most recruits are Ethiopian nationals, some come from South Sudan and Sudan, including individuals from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North. The aim, they said, is to reinforce RSF units fighting in the Blue Nile region. Some trainees have already crossed the border to support combat operations there.

Construction activity near Asosa

The camp lies near the town of Asosa, where increased vehicle traffic has been observed throughout the construction period. Machinery and supplies, including bulldozers and diggers, were reportedly moved through the town every day. Satellite images show a continuous expansion of the camp, with new earthworks, tents, and shipping containers being added by January.

The site’s capacity may reach ten thousand fighters once completed. Trucks bearing logos of a well known Emirati logistics company were seen along the route to the camp, suggesting possible private sector involvement, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Drone infrastructure and airport conversion

Nearby Asosa airport, located just over fifty kilometres from the camp, has undergone significant redevelopment since mid 2025. Analysts have detected a new hangar, extended paved areas, and installations associated with unmanned aerial vehicle operations. Experts believe this upgrade could reflect an effort by the Ethiopian military to establish a regional drone command centre.

Sources inside Ethiopia suggest that the country now operates several such drone facilities, including the one near Asosa. The positioning of these bases on Ethiopia’s western edge allows surveillance and rapid response near the Sudanese frontier while protecting key sites such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Strategic and political implications

Some diplomats and security specialists fear that the proximity of the training camp to the dam, Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, could place it at risk if the area becomes militarised. The camp lies only about one hundred kilometres from the structure, which is vital to Ethiopia’s national economy.

The airport’s renovation is said to have been partly funded by the UAE, further deepening suspicions about the Gulf state’s involvement in the region’s unfolding power struggle. Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to office in 2018, Ethiopia and the UAE have cultivated close political and military ties. In addition to billions in financial support and investment, both countries recently signed an agreement to develop their respective air and defence capabilities.

An uncertain outlook

As of now, neither Ethiopia’s government nor the RSF has publicly addressed the reports concerning the training camp. The Sudanese army has not commented either. Should the allegations prove accurate, they would represent a major expansion of external influence in Sudan’s war, increasing fears that the conflict could reshape alliances and security dynamics far beyond its borders.