Military Dimension: 4,300 Fighters Awaiting Orders
Reuters found that Ethiopia is hosting a secret camp to train thousands of fighters for Sudan’s RSF, located in the remote western region of Benishangul-Gumuz near the Sudanese border. The investigation drew on 15 sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official and multiple diplomats, and reviewed an internal Ethiopian security memo and a diplomatic cable.
As of early January 2026, approximately 4,300 RSF fighters were undergoing training at the site, with internal documents describing a capacity of up to 10,000. Most recruits are Ethiopians, though fighters from South Sudan, Sudan, and the SPLM-N rebel group are also present. Hundreds have already crossed into Blue Nile State to fight alongside the RSF.
Satellite imagery taken November 24 revealed more than 640 tents at the camp. New construction was also observed at Asosa Airport, 53 kilometers away, including a new hangar and a UAV ground control station — infrastructure analysts say is being transformed into a cross-border RSF supply hub.