Ethiopia and Sudan expel diplomats

Addis Ababa (Caasimada Online) – Ethiopia has ordered six diplomats from Sudan to leave the country, while Sudan has responded with a similar order for Ethiopian consulate staff in the city of Gadaref.

A senior Ethiopian official told Reuters on Wednesday that the six individuals, who were working at the Sudanese consulate in the city of Assosa, were given 48 hours to leave the country. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, did not disclose the reason for the decision.

The AP news agency also reported that Ethiopia has ordered the closure of that consulate. A Sudanese official quoted by the agency stated that the staff left the country on Tuesday evening.

On the other hand, two Sudanese government officials told AFP that Sudan responded on Wednesday by expelling Ethiopian diplomats. One of the officials stated that the Ethiopian consulate staff in the city of Gadaref were given 48 hours to leave the country.

These actions come at a time when both countries are accusing each other of supporting armed groups fighting in neighboring countries.

Sudan accuses Ethiopia of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while Ethiopia accuses Sudan of backing the Tigray rebels. Both sides have denied the allegations made against them.

Allegations of airstrikes

The Sudanese government stated on Sunday that it has submitted a complaint against Ethiopia to the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.

It accused Addis Ababa of allowing the RSF to use Ethiopian territory to launch drone attacks, which are targeting civilian service infrastructure in Sudan.

Addis Ababa denied supporting the RSF. A spokesperson for the Ethiopian Prime Minister's office did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the latest allegations.

Ethiopia, for its part, accused Sudan, Egypt, and Eritrea of supporting the Tigray rebels who attacked government forces in September. All three countries denied the accusation.

Fear of regional war spreading

These accusations have heightened concerns that the conflict in Sudan and the unrest in northern Ethiopia could intertwine, potentially leading to a wider war spreading across the Horn of Africa.

The tensions between the two countries are also fueled by the dispute over the border area of Al-Fashaga, where their forces have previously clashed.

Amjad Fariid, a political and foreign affairs advisor to the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, stated that his country seeks to avoid direct conflict with Ethiopia.

“The Sudanese government insists on its right to defend its territory. However, it is making every possible effort to avoid direct conflict with Ethiopia,” he said.

The conflict between the Sudanese government forces and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has displaced more than 14 million people, according to a United Nations census cited by Reuters. The conflict has also led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.