Alleged UAE-Linked RSF training facility in Ethiopia draws U.S. concern

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said Tuesday he is concerned about reports alleging the existence of a United Arab Emirates-linked training hub in Ethiopia supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warning that such actions could escalate regional tensions and prompt further U.S. action.

“I am concerned about reports of a UAE-linked training hub for genocidal RSF thugs in Ethiopia with possible supply routes via Somaliland,” Risch said in a post on X. “These moves would be escalatory and further reason to designate the RSF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), bringing consequences for this regional proxy support.”

Risch’s statement follows a recent Reuters investigation that uncovered what it describes as a secretive military training facility in western Ethiopia that is reportedly preparing thousands of fighters to bolster the RSF. Citing Ethiopian officials, diplomats, and security insiders, the report places the camp in the Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese frontier—an area strategically positioned as clashes intensify in southern Sudan.

According to eight individuals familiar with the matter, including a senior Ethiopian official, the United Arab Emirates is said to have bankrolled the construction of the site and supplied trainers and logistical support. Reuters reviewed satellite photos, an internal Ethiopian security memo, and a diplomatic cable detailing the installation. These materials indicated the camp can accommodate up to 10,000 recruits, with thousands already in training by early January. Most of the fighters are reportedly Ethiopian nationals, though some Sudanese and South Sudanese recruits are also present. Several have allegedly crossed into Sudan’s Blue Nile state to aid RSF operations.

The findings of the Reuters investigation come against the backdrop of deepening ties between Ethiopia and the UAE since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed office in 2018. Meanwhile, the UAE has faced repeated accusations from international media and investigative bodies of supporting the RSF through arms transfers routed via neighboring states such as Chad and through Somalia’s Bosaso port. Abu Dhabi has previously denied providing military support to either side in Sudan’s conflict.

Designation of the RSF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department would impose sweeping sanctions, including asset freezes, travel bans, and criminal penalties for those providing material support. The U.S. administration has already imposed targeted sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Sudan conflict.

The conflict in Sudan has drawn increasing international scrutiny amid fears of regional spillover, arms flows, and proxy involvement by outside powers.