Coordination And Support Between The Sudanese Army And Tigray Forces

By: nihad Mustafa

Press reports indicate that the Sudanese army, in coordination with Eritrea, has begun providing logistical support to Tigray forces in Ethiopia, in exchange for their deployment in areas of eastern Sudan bordering Ethiopia.

Reliable reports indicate that the Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqla Kikil, have directed a number of their units towards the Ethiopian border to support the Tigray forces.

The Sudanese army recruited fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, with whom it strongly sympathized, against Ethiopian government forces between 2020 and 2022, resulting in numerous casualties before peace was reached in South Africa in November 2022. The involvement of Tigrayan forces in the Sudanese conflict is a source of concern for Addis Ababa, which has found itself forced to reconsider its position on both sides of the conflict in Sudan.

The Ethiopian government previously announced in November 2024 that it had obtained several useful pieces of information thanks to the fighting against the Tigray rebel group, which had previously fought alongside Sudanese forces. They continue to argue that the behavior of the Sudanese government could expand the civil conflict and open the door to a variety of scenarios.

Tigray forces are known for serious abuses and violations, both in Sudan and Ethiopia, and Human Rights Watch has previously accused them of numerous serious human rights violations.

The forces launched attacks on civilians in multiple areas, resulting in innocent casualties and significant loss of life and property, particularly in Al-Jazirah State in western Sudan. They also exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region, where residents suffered from shortages of food, healthcare, and clean water.

Tigray forces launched missile strikes on the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and the Amhara region, raising international concern and some countries considering it a violation of international law. They also sought to seize control of important strategic areas, including the Ethiopian Hamra region, and control the land crossing between Ethiopia and Sudan, impacting trade and humanitarian aid flows.

Alliance of Interests

During the civil conflict in Sudan, a military and political alliance emerged between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Tigrayan forces.

According to press reports, the Sudanese army has been using mercenaries from Tigray forces to bolster its position against the Rapid Support Forces, as part of its well-known and long-standing strategy of using militias in its internal and regional wars.

The alliance between the Sudanese army and Tigrayan forces was not surprising, as it was more of a mutual benefit, especially since General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s forces had previously supported these rebels against the Ethiopian government.

Some Tigrayan elements who refused to sign the Ethiopian government’s agreement also found refuge in Sudan, where Colonel Abad Al-Tahiri Al-Zein, of the 46th Defense Battalion, oversaw their assembly, training, and engagement in battle.

The Sudanese army includes more than 20 mercenary groups, including leaders from ISIS and al-Qaeda, who are active in Port Sudan, Atbara, and Karari, according to the confessions of one of the prisoners, Muhammad Ali al-Jazouli, who confirmed his affiliation with al-Qaeda.

Disclaimer: the views and claims expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the stand of the publisher.