Sudan army prepares for RSF attack from Ethiopia on Blue Nile towns
December 27, 2025 (ED DAMAZIN) – A high-ranking government official said on Saturday that the Sudanese army is preparing to repel a planned attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies on the towns of Kurmuk and Geissan in the Blue Nile region, launched from Ethiopian territory.
Last June, the army managed to push the RSF and its allies out of areas in the Blue Nile in southeastern Sudan. Following military strikes, those forces withdrew to areas bordering Ethiopia and South Sudan.
“We confirm the army’s readiness to confront hostile action in the coming weeks against the districts of Kurmuk and Geissan originating from Ethiopia,” the official told Sudan Tribune.
He asserted that Ethiopia has opened its territory to train RSF fighters and allied forces in four border areas within the Benishangul-Gumuz region, which borders the Blue Nile region.
The official noted that training camps—housing the RSF, the SPLM-N (Joseph Touka faction), forces loyal to Obaid Abu Shotal, and mercenaries from Ethiopia and South Sudan—have been filled with military equipment in preparation for the assault.
Obaid Abu Shotal, a tribal leader, joined the RSF at the start of the conflict in April 2023 and participated in battles in Khartoum and the Blue Nile. Meanwhile, the SPLM-N fights alongside the RSF after the two formed the “Ta’asis” alliance. The SPLM-N deputy chairman, Joseph Touka, oversees the Blue Nile front.
The official stated that the Sudanese government has monitored the presence of Abu Shotal, Joseph Touka, and RSF commanders in Assosa, the capital of the Benishangul-Gumuz region.
He further reported that the government detected the delivery of massive military hardware from the UAE at two airbases in Benishangul, which is expected to be used in the attack on Kurmuk and Geissan.
On Thursday, activists circulated satellite imagery showing the completion of two new aircraft hangars at Assosa Airport, along with ongoing construction work, including ground improvements and facility upgrades.
On Dec. 8, Al Jazeera Net quoted a government official saying that Sudan is bracing for the opening of a new military front after Ethiopia permitted the establishment of training camps for the RSF and affiliated foreign mercenaries.
The official explained that Ethiopian authorities have military coordination with the RSF through supportive regional powers. This agreement reportedly includes supply lines and the preparation of landing strips, with combat vehicles, artillery systems, and jamming devices already arriving via Assosa.
However, on December 9, the same website quoted an Ethiopian source denying the existence of RSF camps on Ethiopian soil. The source expressed regret over such allegations, claiming they aim to drive a wedge between Sudan and Ethiopia.
The high-ranking Ethiopian official stated the reports are baseless, emphasizing that communication channels remain open between the two countries at various levels. The source stressed that Ethiopia “will not allow any hostile activity against any neighbouring country” and reaffirmed Addis Ababa’s respect for Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.