Prominent activist Jawar Mohammed is accusing Ethiopian Airlines of using civilian aircraft to transport Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) combatants from N’Djamena to the Sudanese border via Addis Ababa.
Why it matters
- Legal Jeopardy: Transporting the RSF—a group facing allegations of genocide—threatens the airline’s international landing rights and its reputation as a premier global carrier.
- Aviation Norms: The use of civilian aircraft for the covert movement of foreign armed groups violates international civil aviation protocols and endangers passenger safety.
- Regional Fallout: These allegations suggest Ethiopia is providing a logistical lifeline to the RSF, potentially escalating diplomatic tensions with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The Big Picture
The conflict in Sudan has increasingly drawn in regional actors, with logistics becoming a critical front. By allegedly facilitating the movement of RSF troops through Bole International Airport, Ethiopia risks repeating the reputational damage it suffered during the Tigray conflict. This development places the government under pressure to safeguard its most valuable corporate asset from becoming a tool for regional military intervention.
Ethiopian Airlines RSF Transport By the Numbers
| Flight Number | Aircraft Type | Tail Number | Route | Arrival Time |
| ET 8944 | Boeing 737-860 | ET-AQN / ET-AQQ | N’Djamena → Addis | 3:02 AM |
| ET 8137 | Boeing 737-860 | ET-AQN | Addis → Assosa | Feb 22 Start |
| ET 8139 | Boeing 737-860 | ET-AQQ | Addis → Assosa | Post-ET 8137 |
Between the Lines
The logistics chain revealed by Mohammed suggests a “hub-and-spoke” operation designed to blend military movements into commercial schedules. According to airport sources in Assosa, passengers from these flights were offloaded directly into large trucks on the tarmac, bypassing standard civilian processing. While the flights were reportedly discontinued as of last night, it remains unclear if the operation has ended or merely changed aircraft to evade public tracking.
Ethiopian Airlines: What to Watch
- Tail Number Tracking: Monitor if aircraft ET-AQN and ET-AQQ are reassigned to different border-adjacent routes to continue the mission covertly.
- Corporate Governance: Watch for a response from Ethiopian Airlines management or the Ministry of Transport to address the specific flight data and tail numbers cited.
- International Reaction: See if the African Union or international aviation bodies launch an inquiry into the dual-use of civilian infrastructure for mercenary transport.
