The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) finds a major escalation of activity and materiel present at the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) base in Asosa, Ethiopia between 23 and 28 August 2026.

The base in Asosa town, in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region.

Within this period, HRL identifies approximately 100 newly present light technical vehicles in three groupings, approximately six times as many as were present on 23 August 2026. Yale HRL observes mountings for weapons visible on several light technical vehicles, including at least five with likely mounted weapons, and another grouping of 15 vehicles consistent with armored personnel carriers (APCs). This new vehicle presence occurred simultaneously to the new arrival of at least five vehicle transport carriers and 14 vehicle trailers. Each of the light technical vehicles and APCs is capable of holding six personnel. 

Yale HRL assesses that the number of new vehicles present at the ENDF base is sufficient to field a large regiment-to-brigade-size force capable of transporting 750-1000 personnel.