Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing Tigray rebels
Ethiopia’s army chief accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebels after fighters captured strategic towns in the north. Sudan denied the allegation, while the reported fighting raises the risk of a wider Horn of Africa conflict.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: The accusation was made on Friday, while TPLF fighters captured the strategic town of Erebti over the weekend; the excerpts do not specify the calendar date. [1][2]
What happened
Ethiopia’s army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, accused Eritrea of mobilising financial support for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF. He also suggested Sudan and Egypt were involved, but did not explain the alleged role of either country. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Ethiopia claims Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt helping rebelstheadvocate.com.au · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC
- Arab News | Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebelsarabnews.com · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 10:50 PM UTC
The accusations followed renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. A commander told The Associated Press that TPLF fighters had captured Erebti, a strategic town in the northern Afar region, over the weekend. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Arab News | Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebelsarabnews.com · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 10:50 PM UTC
The Sudanese armed forces rejected Ethiopia’s accusation in a statement. Its spokesperson instead alleged that Ethiopia was supporting militias fighting Sudan’s military, apparently referring to the Rapid Support Forces conflict that began in 2023. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Arab News | Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebelsarabnews.com · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 10:50 PM UTC
Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian forces against the TPLF during the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict. The current reporting therefore places the new accusations against a recent history of cross-border involvement, while the alleged present support remains disputed. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Arab News | Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebelsarabnews.com · Article published: Sep 28, 2026, 10:50 PM UTC
Context from the sources
The TPLF and Ethiopian federal troops signed a peace deal in Pretoria in November 2022 after fighting that began in November 2020. A caretaker administration viewed as loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was installed in Mekelle, but tensions over political control remained. [2]
What happened before, and what is different now
A documented earlier episode helps explain a possible mechanism. Its outcome does not predict this event.
The earlier episode
From November 2020 to November 2022, TPLF forces and Ethiopian federal troops fought a war that ended with a peace deal signed in Pretoria. [2]
What connects them
The earlier war established the same Tigray-centered conflict as the background to the renewed fighting. [1][2]
What is different
The current development involves renewed clashes and allegations of outside support, while the earlier episode was a full-scale war that ended in a peace agreement.
What to watch here
The earlier peace deal did not remove the political and military tensions described in the current reporting, but it does not establish that the renewed fighting will follow the same course.
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] Ethiopia claims Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt helping rebelstheadvocate.com.auReferenced for: detail 1
- [2] Arab News | Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebelsarabnews.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 4
What this could mean for you
Fighting could spread across a wider area of the Horn of Africa.
Alleged outside support and reciprocal accusations could pull neighboring states more directly into the renewed conflict.
Reported basis: [1][2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The allegations would need to be substantiated and followed by continued military or material involvement.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Further strategic-town captures or confirmed external military support for either side.
Direct cross-border involvement by Eritrea, Sudan or Egypt.
Pressure eases if…
A verified halt to fighting accompanied by renewed implementation of the Pretoria peace framework.
Clarification or diplomatic resolution of the competing accusations.
Still unclear
The evidence does not establish whether Eritrea, Sudan or Egypt provided material support to the TPLF.
The extent of the renewed fighting, civilian impact and control of other towns is unclear.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
The head of Ethiopia's army has suggested neighbouring Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt are supporting rebel fighters who have captured several strategic towns in renewed fighting…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Over the weekend, TPLF fighters captured the key strategic town of Erebti in the northern Afar region, a commander told The Associated Press on Monday…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.