A Discovery That Shakes the Regional Chessboard
Amid the devastating civil war that has ravaged Sudan since April 2023, an investigation published by Le Monde on September 1, 2026 has exposed a new and worrying chapter: the existence of a second base of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Ethiopian territory. This finding, made by the French newspaper's data verification team, points directly to the growing involvement of Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, in the Sudanese conflict.
The base, whose exact location has not been revealed for security reasons, adds to another previously identified one, consolidating the hypothesis that Ethiopia has become a refuge and logistical support point for the RSF paramilitaries, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
“The presence of a second base in Ethiopia is not an accident. It is an unmistakable sign that Abiy Ahmed is playing a double game in the region, supporting an actor who has been accused of massive atrocities,” says an analyst cited by Le Monde.
Context: The War in Sudan and the Role of the RSF
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are a Sudanese paramilitary group formed from the Janjaweed militia, which operated in Darfur in the early 2000s. Since 2023, they have been waging an open war against the regular Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The conflict has left tens of thousands dead and displaced more than 10 million people, according to the UN.
The RSF have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including mass killings, rapes, and looting. Their leader, Hemedti, has sought external support to sustain his fight, and Ethiopia, under Abiy Ahmed's rule, has been pointed to as one of his main sponsors.
Ethiopia's Involvement: A Dangerous Turn
The identification of this second base in Ethiopia suggests that Abiy Ahmed's support for the RSF is not an isolated incident but a deliberate strategy. According to Le Monde, the base would be used for training, supply, and rest of fighters, implying active participation by the Ethiopian government in the Sudanese conflict.
This move by Abiy Ahmed could be motivated by geopolitical interests, such as control over the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has generated tensions with Egypt and Sudan. By supporting the RSF, Ethiopia might be seeking to weaken the Sudanese government and gain influence in the region.
Reactions and Consequences
The finding has generated a wave of reactions in the international community. Egypt, which maintains an alliance with the Sudanese army, has expressed deep concern and has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union have urged Ethiopia to cease any support for the RSF and to respect Sudanese sovereignty.
The Ethiopian government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has denied the accusations, calling them “unfounded” and “part of a disinformation campaign.” However, the evidence presented by Le Monde, including satellite images and testimonies from local sources, appears compelling.
An Uncertain Future for the Region
The war in Sudan has plunged the region into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Ethiopia's involvement, a key actor in the Horn of Africa, could extend the conflict beyond Sudanese borders, destabilizing neighboring countries such as Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
Peace efforts, led by the African Union and the UN, are now more complicated than ever. The international community faces the challenge of pressuring Abiy Ahmed to abandon his support for the RSF while trying to avoid a regional escalation that could have catastrophic consequences.
Meanwhile, Sudanese people continue to suffer the consequences of a war that seems to have no end. The hope for a peaceful solution fades with each new finding of foreign interference, and the urgency for coordinated international action becomes increasingly critical.
Source: Le Monde