Ethiopia builds secret camp to train Sudan RSF fighters with UAE support
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 11 (YPA) – Identical sources, including a senior Ethiopian official and leaked security memoranda, reported intensified military activity in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, centered on a large training facility reportedly used by fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and financed and overseen by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Eight sources familiar with the matter said that that the site hosted more than 4,300 RSF personnel in January 2026, supported by military trainers and comprehensive logistical assistance.
Moreover, six officials familiar with the camp’s operations said that while most recruits were Ethiopian nationals, the group also included fighters from South Sudan and Sudan. Some were affiliated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N), the rebel group controlling parts of Sudan’s Blue Nile State, underscoring the broader regional implications of the recruitment and training activities.
An internal security memo reportedly identified General Getachew Gudina, head of the Ethiopian National Defense Force’s Defense Intelligence Department, as overseeing the camp’s creation. Multiple diplomatic and security sources confirmed his role. Getachew did not respond to requests for comment.
Satellite imagery shows the camp was carved out of forested land in the Menge district, roughly 32 kilometres from the Sudanese border. Its location places it near the intersection of Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan.
Clearing began in April, followed by the construction of metal-roofed buildings. Larger-scale development, including tents for trainees, began in the second half of October.
A diplomatic cable dated November describes the camp as capable of housing up to 10,000 fighters. It reports the arrival of dozens of Land Cruisers, heavy trucks, RSF units and UAE trainers. Reuters is withholding the authoring country of the cable to protect the source.
These developments come amid reports of increased military movements along the Sudan–Ethiopia border.
Observers say the reported presence of foreign-backed training operations, combined with the participation of Sudanese armed group members on Ethiopian soil, could further complicate the regional security landscape across East Africa and the Nile Basin and potentially influence the trajectory of the conflict in Sudan.
@E.Y.M