Reuters: Documents confirm UAE funding of Rapid Support Forces camp in Ethiopia
Informed sources have revealed to Reuters new and startling details regarding the involvement of regional actors in fueling the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Documents and an internal memo reviewed by the agency indicate direct Emirati support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through Ethiopian territory. The sources explained that Ethiopia is constructing a secret training camp for RSF fighters, funded and supervised by the United Arab Emirates.
According to an internal memo revealed by Reuters, the UAE not only provided financial support but also supplied specialized military trainers to oversee the training of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) elements inside Ethiopian territory. The secret military facility includes a sophisticated drone control center, indicating a significant upgrade in the militia's weaponry capabilities. Reports confirm that the camp has trained approximately 4,300 fighters, and trucks bearing the logos of Emirati companies have been observed regularly visiting the site.
Context of the conflict and escalating accusations
These leaks reinforce accusations repeatedly leveled by the Sudanese military leadership against the UAE for supporting rebels, accusations which Abu Dhabi has denied in international forums. The conflict in Sudan dates back to mid-April 2023, when violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), plunging the country into a dark tunnel of security chaos and humanitarian crises. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions, amid UN warnings of an impending famine and the complete collapse of state institutions.
Regional and international dimensions of the event
The revelation of a training camp in Ethiopia carries serious geopolitical implications, threatening to expand the conflict to include neighboring countries and transform Sudan's internal war into a complex regional crisis. Observers believe that the involvement of neighboring states in providing logistical or military support to either side of the conflict could complicate diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, particularly those led by the United States and Saudi Arabia through the Jeddah platform.
The UN position and expert reports
In a related development, sources confirmed to Reuters that the accusations made by the Sudanese army are finding increasing resonance and credibility with UN experts and sanctions monitors. Previous reports by UN experts have documented evidence of weapons flowing across Sudan's western border and via suspicious flights, constituting a violation of Security Council resolutions imposing an arms embargo on Darfur. This new report places the international community before its responsibilities to investigate these violations, which contribute to prolonging the war and the suffering of the Sudanese people.
