A recent investigation has revealed that Ethiopia is allegedly operating a secret training camp for fighters of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Satellite imagery and multiple sources suggest the camp, located in western Ethiopia near the Sudanese border, is being used to prepare recruits to bolster the RSF’s operations in the ongoing civil war. The United Arab Emirates is reportedly providing funding and support for this operation, a claim that Abu Dhabi denies.
Satellite images analyzed by Reuters indicate the establishment of a significant training facility carved out of forested land in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region. Initial clearing began around April, with construction of permanent structures and the appearance of numerous tents by late November. Defense intelligence firm Janes estimates the camp could house several thousand people, with around 4,300 RSF fighters undergoing training as of early January.
Eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, claim that the United Arab Emirates financed the camp’s construction and provided military trainers and logistical support. This assertion is supported by an internal Ethiopian security services memo and a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters. However, the UAE foreign ministry has denied any involvement in Sudan’s conflict, stating Abu Dhabi is not a party to the fighting.
The camp’s location, approximately 32 kilometers from the Sudanese border, places it strategically near the intersection of Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan. Officials suggest that many of the trained recruits are expected to reinforce RSF operations in Sudan’s Blue Nile state, a new front in the conflict. Some fighters have reportedly already crossed the border. Concerns have also been raised about the proximity of a nearby refurbished airport, which may serve as a drone operations hub, to Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.