Ethiopia summons Sudan ambassador over drone attack allegations
Ethiopia–Sudan dispute
Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Addis Ababa after Sudan’s Foreign Ministry accused Ethiopia of interference and alleged that drones entered Sudan from Ethiopian territory and struck targets there.
“Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Addis Ababa following accusations by Khartoum that drone attacks on Sudanese territory were launched from Ethiopia”
An Al Jazeera-cited Ethiopian diplomatic source told the Sudanese ambassador the ministry "completely rejects" the accusations, calling them false claims intended to cover up Sudan’s support for and recruitment of rebels from within Ethiopia; Ethiopia also reiterated its position of neutrality regarding the conflict in Sudan.
The article does not independently confirm whether the reported drone strikes originated in Ethiopia, and the origin of the strikes remains disputed.
Sudan–Ethiopia tensions
Khaled Mohamed Taha, a journalist and researcher on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, said tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia appear to have moved beyond media exchanges.
He said reports of drone strikes that caused displacement in Sudan's Blue Nile state and alleged sightings of Ethiopian military units inside Gezira state suggest an undeclared confrontation rather than a simple exchange of accusations.
Taha added that Ethiopia has accused Sudan of recruiting fighters from the Tigray region to participate in the Sudanese conflict, reflecting a shift from border tensions to the use of each country's internal conflicts against the other.
Regional tensions and risks
Taha placed the dispute in a broader regional context, saying both countries appear to be adopting a strategy of 'acknowledgment and postponement,' maintaining political escalation while awaiting shifts in regional and international dynamics.
“Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Addis Ababa following accusations by Khartoum that drone attacks on Sudanese territory were launched from Ethiopia”
He cited heightened tensions between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other as creating openings for regional powers seeking to reposition themselves.
He said Ethiopia may view the current period of geopolitical uncertainty as an opportunity to expand its influence, particularly along its borders and in Red Sea security dynamics.
Taha warned that any escalation between Sudan and Ethiopia could deepen uncertainty in the Red Sea region and increase militarisation of strategic corridors and risks to maritime navigation and international trade.
He also warned it could complicate efforts to resolve the war inside Sudan by dispersing military resources and giving the conflict a deeper regional dimension.
Key Takeaways
- Ethiopia summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Addis Ababa.
- Sudan accused that drone attacks were launched from Ethiopian territory.
- Sudan's Foreign Ministry alleged drones entered Sudan and struck targets inside the country.
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