Sudanese Army’s Tigrayan Ties Raise Fears of Wider Regional Conflict

Renewed war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is bringing the Sudanese army’s relations with Tigrayan factions and fighters under growing scrutiny, amid fears that the conflict could deepen instability in Sudan.

At the heart of those concerns is the possibility that Sudanese territory could serve as a rear base for groups seeking to destabilise Ethiopia. Such a role could draw Sudan further into its neighbour’s conflict while its own war continues.

The army’s ties with Tigrayan fighters raise questions about how armed groups might operate across the border. The concern extends beyond political alliances to the potential movement of weapons, fighters and supplies between the two conflicts.

Rather than remaining separate wars, the Sudanese and Ethiopian conflicts could become part of a single regional confrontation, with overlapping supply routes and armed actors making each harder to contain.

The extent of any Sudanese army support for Tigrayan factions remains unclear from the available information. But the prospect of deeper military cooperation underscores the risk that renewed fighting in Tigray could have consequences well beyond Ethiopia’s borders.