A New Threat: Secret Camps in Eritrea run by a network linked to the former Intelligence Director

 Report by: SPT

At a time when regional and international efforts continue to attempt to contain the devastating war in Sudan, the Islamists continue -rather incessantly- to race against time on several fronts to disrupt any efforts that could potentially end the ongoing war, in addition to thwarting all steps aiming to achieve peace and stability. At the heart of the aforementioned efforts is Salah Mohamed Abdullah “Salah Gosh,” the former Director of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), who is seeking to form a new armed militia to be drawn into the conflict that has been raging since (April 15th, 2023), between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

International Sanctions and Islamist Escalation:

In December (2023), the United States imposed sanctions on Salah Gosh for his role in undermining peace, security, and stability in Sudan. In September (2024), the European Union imposed similar sanctions on him, before deciding two days ago to renew them for another year, accusing him of participating in fueling the war and destabilizing the country.

According to political and security sources who spoke to (SPT), Gosh is using politician Mohamed Sayed Ahmed Al-Jakomi as a front to form a militia that upholds regional and ethnic slogans, posing as a representative of northern Sudan, whilst in reality, it is a purely Islamist militia.

Al-Jakomi and the Militia Announcement:

On the 25th of July, Al-Jakomi announced the formation of a new militia, stating that he seeks to train (50,000 fighters) from northern Sudan. He told the media that he had obtained the approval of Eritrean President, Isaias Afwerki to establish training camps within his country, noting that training would be conducted in batches until the required number -stated above- was reached.

On the 18th of August, Al-Jakomi made an appearance in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and sent photos of himself with President Afwerki, stating that he had discussed training arrangements for his military forces with officials there.

However, a political activist from the Northern state, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained to (SPT) that Al-Jakomihad attempted to promote the militia amongst the state’s youth over the past three months, but was confronted with widespread rejection. He added, “Everyone knows who Al-Jakomiis, and who stands behind him.”

The source confirmed that Al-Jakomi had been Salah Gosh’s confidant for years, since the latter man’s appointment as Director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service. “He used him to infiltrate political forces, and went as far as to arrest him a number of times in an effort to polish his image,” according to the source. 

Political Backgrounds and Contradictory Testimonies:

A defector from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), headed by Minni ArcuaMinnawi, told (SPT) that Salah Gosh was the founder of the so-called “Northern Track,” headed by Al-Jakomi, and through it, he participated in the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) signed in (October 2020). However, he was later sidelined after the Armed Movements discovered his secret and seized control of positions.

The source added that Al-Jakomi’s current actions on behalf of Gosh represent an extension of his previous efforts to establish a foothold for the latter in the power he lost with the fall of Al-Bashir’s regime. He confirmed that he had previously confronted Al-Jakomiabout this fact, but was met with denial.

In a call with (SPT), Al-Jakomi became agitated when asked about his efforts on behalf of Salah Gosh, angrily responding, “Those who make such accusation are idiots. I am not a puppet or a chess piece manipulated by others. I am part of the Sudanese revolution, and I fought to overthrow Omar Al-Bashir.”

He added, “Salah Gosh doesn’t need me for anything, because if he wishes to accomplish any goal, he won’t consult anyone and will -promptly- do it himself.”

Nevertheless, he lashed out again, sharing that he had considered training his forces in Eritrea but had backed down: “We’ve changed our mind now.” He confirmed that his forces were currently receiving military training, refusing to reveal their locations, but only stating that, “We have a unified force operating under the Sudanese Army’s command. You’ll see it soon.” He then declined to answer further questions.

Port Sudan Investments and Camps in Eritrea:

Furthermore, a military source in Port Sudan confirmed to (SPT) that Al-Jakomi’s mission has come to an end, explaining, “At this juncture, the real owner of the forces is in charge.”

Meanwhile, according to a retired security officer’s statements to (SPT), Salah Gosh continues to be present on the Sudanese scene, relying on his associates within the security and military apparatus. He further explained that Gosh currently manages various investments through fronts for businessmen close to him, including fuel and gold trading, in addition to marketing his factory’s products in Sudan and owning a tomato sauce factory in Egypt.

The source added that Gosh has recently been visiting Eritrea frequently, and that a group of eight former security officers are working with him there, supervising arrangements related to establishing the training camp and transporting troops.

Whilst some sources confirmed that the training camp has made significant progress and entered the implementation phase, others believe that the project is facing obstacles. Moreover, a security source stressed that the Eritrean Authority has already approved the establishment of the camp and identified its location within the Eritrean Army’s SAWA Defense Training Center in the Gash Barka region, western Eritrea. This particular Center is where conscripts and those obligated to perform national service undergo basic military training.

In Conclusion:

Amidst the complexities of the ongoing Sudanese war and the entanglement of regional and international interests, Salah Gosh’s actions, through his elements within the military and security apparatus, his fronts within the political forces allied with the Port Sudan government, and his allies in the Islamic Movement; pose a direct threat to the efforts aiming to achieve peace and stability. For with his insistence on reclaiming his position by forming new militias with external support, fears are growing that the war will prolong and reproduce the cycle of violence, in which the party faced with the most significant imminent losses is the Sudanese people.