Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has been accused of quietly hosting a secret military camp to train fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, according to an investigation published by Reuters and accounts from regional sources.
The report says the camp is located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region near the Sudan border. Satellite images reviewed by Reuters show new buildings, training grounds and expanded facilities that appeared from late 2025. Sources familiar with the matter claim thousands of RSF fighters have already passed through the camp, with room for many more.
The Rapid Support Forces are one of the main parties in Sudan’s civil war, which has been raging since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes. The RSF has been accused by rights groups and the United Nations of widespread abuses against civilians.
According to the Reuters investigation, the camp is close to Asosa airport, which has also been upgraded in recent months. Some sources believe the airport may be used to move fighters and supplies, though this has not been independently confirmed.
Several people cited in the report allege that the United Arab Emirates helped finance and support the training operation. Officials in the UAE have denied any involvement. Ethiopian authorities and RSF leaders have also not publicly responded to the allegations.
The claims have raised serious concerns in the region. Sudan’s army has repeatedly accused neighbouring countries of backing the RSF, saying foreign support is prolonging the war. Recent fighting near the Ethiopia Sudan border and reports of RSF troop movements in the area have added to tensions between the two countries.
Analysts warn that if Ethiopia is proven to be hosting or supporting RSF training, it could deepen regional instability in the Horn of Africa, a region already struggling with conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises.
For now, the allegations remain unconfirmed by official statements. But the investigation adds new weight to long standing claims that Sudan’s war is no longer confined within its borders and is being shaped by regional power struggles.