The Sudanese military has denied allegations made by the Ethiopian army chief that Khartoum is supporting and supplying armed groups fighting against Addis Abeba's forces in northern Ethiopia. The Ethiopian army chief, General Birhanu Jula, had accused Sudan, Eritrea, and Egypt of supporting the armed groups. Sudan's military described the allegations as "baseless" and reaffirmed its commitment to international law and good neighborliness.
The tensions between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have been escalating for months. The TPLF, which effectively governs the Tigray region, has been engaged in a conflict with the federal government. The resumption of fighting has raised concerns about a potential large-scale war, four years after a previous conflict in Tigray that resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths between 2020 and 2022.
The Sudanese military's denial of the allegations came in a statement released late on Sunday. The statement emphasized that Sudan is committed to international law and the principles of good neighborliness. The military also rejected similar allegations made by the Ethiopian army chief against Eritrea and Egypt.
Eritrea and Egypt have not publicly responded to the allegations. Eritrea, a former Italian colony that gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has historically had tense relations with its larger neighbor. Sudan, on the other hand, has accused Ethiopia of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that Khartoum has been fighting since April 2023.
The conflict in Ethiopia has raised concerns about regional stability. The Ethiopian government has been engaged in a conflict with the TPLF, which controls the Tigray region. The resumption of fighting has resulted in a significant escalation of violence, with reports of drone attacks and other forms of military action.
Sudan and Ethiopia have had a complex relationship in recent years. Sudan has accused Ethiopia of supporting the RSF, while Ethiopia has accused Sudan of supporting the TPLF. The tensions between the two countries have been further complicated by the involvement of other regional actors, including Egypt and Eritrea.
The international community has expressed concern about the escalation of violence in Ethiopia. The African Union has estimated that the previous conflict in Tigray resulted in 600,000 deaths, a figure that many experts consider to be conservative. The current conflict has the potential to lead to a wider regional instability, with implications for Sudan, Eritrea, and other neighboring countries.
Key points
- Sudan's military rejects Ethiopia's allegations of supporting armed groups fighting in northern Ethiopia.
- The conflict in Ethiopia has raised concerns about regional stability and the potential for a large-scale war.
- The tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia have been complicated by the involvement of other regional actors, including Egypt and Eritrea.
