Mubarak Al-Fadil Warns of Military Plan by Militia, Ethiopia to Seize Roseires Dam

The leader of the National Umma Party, Mubarak Al-Fadil Al-Mahdi, warned of what he described as a dangerous military plan involving a militia and Ethiopia aimed at seizing the Roseires Dam in Sudan’s Blue Nile region.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Mubasher, Al-Mahdi said Egypt’s recent stance on the war in Sudan is linked to “serious developments” along the Sudanese-Ethiopian border in Blue Nile State. He cautioned that military movements there could open a new front inside Sudan.

Al-Mahdi disclosed preparations to assemble a force of up to 7,000 fighters in areas controlled by Joseph Tuka, a leader in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) from the Aduok community, which spans South and North Sudan. He said the force is reportedly being trained to seize the Roseires Dam, before advancing toward Al-Dali and Al-Mazmum.

Such a move, he argued, would open a new front in a strategically vital area of central Sudan, significantly widening the scope of the conflict.

Al-Mahdi noted that Ethiopia has denied any role in preparing or supporting these forces. However, he suggested that Egypt is likely aware of the developments and may have been briefed by President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan.

He warned that these developments could escalate the conflict under what he termed a “stretch-the-fronts” strategy, pointing to the potential involvement of other armed actors, including the Amhara Fano militia, which he said could attempt to seize Sudanese territory in Al-Fashaga.

Al-Mahdi concluded that Sudan faces the risk of multi-party regional intervention, further complicating an already fragile security landscape.