
A video circulating among Sudanese activists purportedly shows SAF officer acknowledging support from Ethiopian Tigray forces in military operations within Sudan’s El Gezira state.
The officer, flanked by individuals identified as Tigray fighters, claims they are assisting in efforts to control Wad Madani and other areas, aiming to counter the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This development aligns with reports indicating the presence of foreign troops aiding General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s army (SAF), particularly in the states of El Gezira and Gedaref.
Sources suggest that fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), who engaged in a conflict with Ethiopian government forces from 2020 to 2022, resulting in significant casualties before a peace agreement in November 2022, are now involved.
Security officials in Gedaref state report that Tigray forces are stationed in multiple locations within Sudan, including areas near the Atbara and Setit rivers, approximately 30 kilometers from the city of Showak. Their presence has also been noted in camps such as Harira and Maqarah in the Faw locality, serving as coordination centers with the SAF.
In El Gezira state, Tigray forces are reportedly active in villages like Hariz and Baqassa along the Wad Madani-Gedaref road, establishing checkpoints and conducting vehicle inspections and residential searches.
However, the Tigray interim administration has refuted these claims. In a statement, they “strongly deny and condemn” the allegations made by the RSF regarding TPLF forces’ involvement in the Sudanese conflict, emphasizing that the TPLF is a political party without an armed wing or control over militias.
The RSF has accused the SAF of employing foreign fighters, including Tigray forces, in its military campaigns. In response, the Tigray interim administration criticized these accusations as attempts to internationalize the conflict and garner external support.
General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) recent operations have led to significant territorial gains. On January 11, 2025, the SAF announced its entry into Wad Madani, the capital of El Gezira state, marking a potential turning point in the conflict that began in April 2023.
The RSF acknowledged the loss but vowed to reclaim the city, attributing their setback to SAF’s use of Iranian drones and alleged support from Tigray fighters.
The involvement of foreign elements in Sudan’s internal conflict raises concerns about regional stability, particularly along the Ethiopia-Sudan border. Analysts warn that the spillover of Sudan’s civil war threatens to destabilize already turbulent areas of Ethiopia, with implications for cross-border trade and land control.