New research from Yale University alleges that Ethiopia's military is providing support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces through a base near the border, raising fresh concerns about regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has gathered evidence suggesting the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is using a military installation in Asosa to support RSF operations across the border in Sudan's Blue Nile State. The research, conducted over a five-month period, relies on satellite imagery and open-source intelligence to document what researchers describe as logistical coordination between Ethiopian forces and the RSF.
The Yale lab reports identifying what it calls clear visual indicators of support, including vehicle transfers and modifications to military equipment at the ENDF base in Asosa Town. The facility's proximity to the Sudan border has allegedly enabled cross-border operations that extend RSF capabilities in Blue Nile State, according to the research findings.
The allegations emerge as Sudan's civil war enters its second year, with the RSF locked in devastating conflict against the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023. The war has displaced millions of Sudanese civilians and created a humanitarian catastrophe that has rippled across the Horn of Africa, straining resources in neighboring countries including Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's alleged involvement would represent a significant escalation in regional interference in Sudan's conflict. The Horn of Africa has become increasingly polarized as various actors pursue competing interests in Sudan, with Egypt, the UAE, and other regional powers accused of supporting different factions in the war.
The Asosa region sits along Ethiopia's western border with Sudan and has historically served as a transit point for refugees fleeing conflict in Blue Nile State. The area has also been a corridor for trade and cross-border movement, making it strategically significant for any military operations extending into Sudanese territory.
For Ethiopia, the allegations raise questions about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration's regional strategy at a time when Addis Ababa faces multiple diplomatic challenges. Ethiopia's relationship with Sudan has been complicated by disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), border demarcation issues in the al-Fashaga triangle, and competing claims over water resources.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, emerged from Sudan's former Janjaweed militias and has been accused of widespread atrocities during the current conflict. International efforts to mediate between the RSF and Sudan's military have repeatedly stalled, with fighting continuing across multiple fronts despite numerous ceasefire agreements.
