Khartoum, Sudan — The Sudanese government has levelled accusations against Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for orchestrating recent drone attacks, including incidents targeting Khartoum airport.
According to military spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab, Sudan has evidence of four drone attacks since March 1, all originating from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport. Sudan further asserts that the UAE supplied the drones used in these attacks. Abdelwahab declared, “What Ethiopia and the UAE have done is direct aggression against Sudan and won’t be met with silence. “.
In response, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem emphasized that while Sudan would not initiate attacks against other countries, it would respond to any aggression. This stance follows a drone strike on Monday at Khartoum airport, amidst previous attacks on Sudanese states of Kordofan, Blue Nile, and White Nile.
The recent surge in drone attacks has coincided with Sudan’s descent into a civil war on April 15, 2023, stemming from a power struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Despite the capital, Khartoum, being considered largely safe, the string of attacks has shattered the sense of calm, particularly after the airport’s first international flight in three years last week.
The tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia have been simmering for years, particularly over disputes in the al — Fashaga region and the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Both countries are currently addressing internal challenges and have accused each other of supporting armed opponents. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Sudan’s accusations as “baseless “and blamed Sudan’s army for supporting mercenaries from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The statement from Addis Ababa alleged that Sudan was facilitating incursions along Ethiopia’s western frontier with the support of external patrons. Alan Boswell, Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, warned that the escalating accusations between Sudan and Ethiopia risked exacerbating both countries’internal challenges and regional instability. He highlighted the need for de-escalation efforts and the importance of international diplomacy in addressing the situation.
Sudan’s allegations against the UAE involve claims of support to the RSF during the civil war, a charge the UAE denies. Sudan’s military spokesperson, Abdelwahab, cited “conclusive evidence “from a drone shot down in North Kordofan state, indicating that UAE-made drones had been launched from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport region.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: aljazeera
Source: Federica Marsi, AFP, AP and Reuters
