Addis Ababa (Somalia Today) – Ethiopia has rejected Sudanese accusations that it played a role in recent drone attacks, calling the claims “baseless” and accusing Sudan’s army of supporting Tigrayan fighters near Ethiopia’s western frontier.
The Ethiopian foreign ministry issued the denial after Sudanese military and foreign ministry officials accused Addis Ababa of involvement in attacks linked to the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
“Ethiopia rejects the latest baseless accusations made against it during the joint press conference by the Sudanese Armed Forces, Foreign Minister and military spokesperson,” the ministry said in a statement dated May 5.
The statement marks a sharp escalation in the diplomatic dispute between the neighbouring countries, whose relations have suffered for years because of border tensions, the war in Sudan and Ethiopia’s concerns over armed groups operating close to its territory.
Sudanese officials have accused Ethiopia of allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Sudan, including allegations linked to drone strikes.
Addis Ababa denied the claims and said it had avoided a public confrontation out of respect for the close ties between the two peoples.
“The peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan share a historic and enduring bond of friendship,” the ministry said.
It said the government had “exercised restraint and refrained from publicising the grave violations of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and national security committed by some belligerents in the Sudanese civil war.”
TPLF fighters
Ethiopia’s statement turned the accusation back on Sudan, alleging that fighters linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had taken part in the Sudanese conflict.
“These violations include, among others, the extensive use of TPLF mercenaries in the conflict,” the ministry said.
It also accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of arming and financing the fighters.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces have also provided arms and financial support to these mercenaries, thereby facilitating their incursions along Ethiopia’s western frontier,” the statement said.
The ministry said the activities of TPLF fighters in Sudan were “a matter of public record” and claimed there was “ample and credible evidence” that Sudan had become a hub for groups hostile to Ethiopia.
It added that the latest Sudanese allegations formed part of a wider political campaign.
“It is evident that these hostile actions, as well as the recent and earlier series of allegations by officials of Sudanese Armed Forces, are undertaken at the behest of external patrons seeking to advance their own nefarious agenda,” the ministry said.
Ethiopia did not provide detailed evidence in the statement.
The TPLF fought a two-year war against Ethiopia’s federal government from 2020 to 2022, a conflict that killed large numbers of civilians and displaced millions before the sides signed a peace agreement in Pretoria.
Although the deal ended major fighting in northern Ethiopia, tensions have continued between the TPLF, the federal government and neighbouring states. Addis Ababa has also remained deeply sensitive to armed activity near its borders.
Regional spillover
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 after weeks of tension between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
The fighting quickly spread from Khartoum to Darfur, Kordofan, Al Jazirah and other regions, drawing in local militias, foreign fighters and regional interests.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and pushed parts of the country towards famine. It has also unsettled Sudan’s neighbours, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Chad, South Sudan and Eritrea.
Ethiopia and Sudan share a long and porous border. The two countries have also clashed in recent years over the fertile al-Fashaga border region, where Sudanese and Ethiopian farmers have long disputed land rights.
The latest row adds another layer of tension to a region already shaken by overlapping conflicts, refugee flows and rival alliances.
Sudan has repeatedly accused outside actors of supporting factions in the war. Regional governments have denied taking part in the conflict, while diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire have repeatedly failed.
Call for truce
Despite the sharp tone of its statement, Ethiopia said it remained committed to the Sudanese people and called for a negotiated end to the war.
“Ethiopia will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan and to affirm its bonds of friendship with them during these difficult times,” the ministry said.
It said there was “no military solution to the crisis” and urged dialogue between the warring sides.
The ministry called for “an immediate humanitarian truce” followed by “a sustained ceasefire and an independent, inclusive and transparent civilian-led dialogue and transition process.”
It said such a process was needed “to lay the foundation for durable peace and the restoration of civilian rule.”
The statement reflects Ethiopia’s attempt to reject Sudanese accusations while presenting itself as a supporter of peace talks and civilian transition.
But the exchange also shows how Sudan’s war continues to strain relations across the Horn of Africa, where governments fear the conflict could further destabilise borders, armed movements and regional security.
