This research paper builds on work the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) has conducted on the Sudan–Ethiopia borderland under the XCEPT programme since 2021. This culminated in the report ‘Resistance in the Peripheries: Fragile peace and civil war in Sudan and Ethiopia’s borderlands’, published in March 2023. It also draws on work undertaken by the RVI as part of the Ethiopia Peace Research Facility (PRF), particularly on the Amhara region. This paper was written through a combination of open-source research and utilizing a team of researchers to carry out fieldwork in Benishangul-Gumuz (Ethiopia), and Gedaref, Kassala and Red Sea states in Sudan.

This research paper is a product of the FCDO’s Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme, funded by UK aid from the UK government. XCEPT brings together leading experts to examine conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour. The programme carries out research to better understand the causes and impacts of conflict in border areas and their international dimensions. It supports more effective policymaking and development programming and builds the skills of local partners. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.