Ethiopia Revealed To Be Hosting Secret RSF Training Camp

Reuters reporting, based on officials, internal security notes, diplomatic cables, and satellite imagery, indicates Ethiopia is hosting a covert training camp for thousands of RSF fighters near its western border. The finding allegedly constitutes the first direct evidence of Ethiopian involvement in Sudan’s conflict and underscores how external support networks are sustaining a war that has already displaced millions.

The camp provides the RSF with fresh manpower as fighting intensifies in Sudan’s south, particularly in Blue Nile state.

It also places Ethiopia more squarely into a conflict shaped by competing regional interests, with Gulf states and neighboring African countries drawn into overlapping security calculations.

First Direct Evidence Emerges

Eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, told Reuters that the camp was constructed with financing and support from the United Arab Emirates, including trainers and logistics.

An internal note by Ethiopia’s security services stated that “their logistical and military supplies are being provided by the UAE,” while a diplomatic cable reviewed by Reuters echoed the assessment.

Reuters said it could not independently verify UAE involvement or the camp’s purpose.

The UAE foreign ministry denied any role, saying it was not a party to the conflict or “in any way” involved in the hostilities. Ethiopia’s government spokesperson, its army, and the RSF did not respond to detailed requests for comment.

On Jan. 6, Ethiopia and the UAE issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire in Sudan while praising bilateral defense ties.

Scale, Location, Recruitment Pipeline

As of early January, about 4,300 RSF fighters were undergoing training at the site, according to the Ethiopian security note. A November diplomatic cable put the camp’s capacity at up to 10,000 fighters. The facility lies in the Menge district of Benishangul-Gumuz, roughly 20 miles (32 km) from the Sudan border and near a tri-border area with South Sudan.

Satellite imagery shows forest clearing beginning in April, followed by construction of metal-roofed buildings. From October, tents spread rapidly across the site.

An image taken on Nov. 24 by U.S. firm Vantor shows more than 640 tents, each about four meters square. Jane’s assessed the camp could house at least 2,500 people, though it said it could not confirm the site was military.

Convoys added to the picture. On Nov. 17, two Ethiopian military officials said they saw 56 trucks carrying an estimated 50 to 60 trainees each. Two days later, they observed another convoy of 70 trucks. A Nov. 24 satellite image showed at least 18 large trucks at the camp.

Drone Infrastructure and Strategic Depth

Activity has also expanded at Asosa airport, 33 miles (53 km) from the camp. Imagery since August 2025 shows a new hangar, paved aprons, and what experts identified as a UAV ground control station and satellite antenna. A senior Ethiopian official said the military planned to turn Asosa into a drone operation center, one of at least five across the country.

A diplomatic source said the upgrades reflect a shift of aerial assets toward Ethiopia’s western flank, partly to secure infrastructure such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The camp sits about 63 miles (101 km) from the dam, Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, heightening regional concerns about spillover risk.

Foreign Backers and War Dynamics

Sudan’s army has long accused the UAE of backing the RSF, claims that U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers have found credible, while the RSF sustains its combat power through a layered mercenary network that combines foreign specialists, regional fighters, and cross-border recruitment supported by flexible logistics.

Abu Dhabi has been a close ally of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2018, pledging $3 billion in aid and investment, including $1 billion to Ethiopia’s central bank.

In 2025, the two countries’ air forces signed an agreement to develop defense capabilities.

The Sudan war has driven millions of refugees into Egypt, Chad, Libya, and South Sudan, and has been marked by famine and racially charged atrocities.

The Ethiopian camp illustrates how the conflict’s logistics now stretch well beyond Sudan’s borders.