A circulating video among Sudanese activists has reportedly captured General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) officer acknowledging support from fighters believed to be from Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The video suggests the Tigray forces are aiding SAF in military operations in Sudan’s El Gezira state, including efforts to control key areas such as Wad Madani.
This revelation comes amid widespread reports of foreign involvement in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. Allegations have mounted that fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)—who fought Ethiopian federal forces from 2020 to 2022 before a peace deal ended hostilities—are now supporting SAF’s campaign against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Security officials in Sudan’s Gedaref state have reportedly identified Tigray forces in multiple locations near the Atbara and Setit rivers, and in camps within the Faw locality. These forces are said to be coordinating operations with SAF and have established checkpoints and conducted searches in villages along the Wad Madani-Gedaref road.
Despite these claims, the Tigray interim administration has firmly denied any involvement in Sudan’s conflict. In a statement, it “strongly denies and condemns” allegations of TPLF fighters’ participation, asserting that the TPLF is a political entity with no military wing or operational control over armed groups.
The RSF, which has faced territorial losses to SAF in recent weeks, has accused General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s forces of deploying foreign combatants, including Tigray fighters, alongside advanced weaponry such as Iranian drones. In response, the Tigray administration dismissed the accusations as attempts to internationalize Sudan’s civil war.
On January 11, 2025, SAF announced a significant victory, entering Wad Madani, the capital of El Gezira state. The RSF acknowledged the setback but vowed to reclaim the city, accusing SAF of leveraging external support to shift the tide of the conflict, which erupted in April 2023.
Analysts warn that the alleged involvement of foreign elements could destabilize the region further, exacerbating tensions along the Ethiopia-Sudan border and threatening fragile peace in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The spillover risks disrupting trade and land security in an already volatile area.