The key facts

  • Sudan's Foreign Ministry accused Ethiopia of allowing drone launches from its territory
  • The day before, drone attacks hit six power stations in four states
  • Ethiopia earlier rejected the accusations and said it respects Sudan's sovereignty

Accusations amid attacks on power stations

Sudan has officially accused Ethiopia of allowing its territory to be used as a launch site for drones used in recent attacks on Sudanese facilities. The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Muawiya Osman Khalid at a seminar held by the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) in Khartoum, dedicated to accusations that Ethiopia supports the Sudanese paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Anadolu reports.

Khartoum's statements

Khalid described the alleged launches as 'a dangerous development that could undermine security and stability in the region' and said that 'Ethiopia has not been restrained and continues its aggression against Sudan.' According to him, Sudan reserves the right to defend itself and to inform the international community, calling on international legal institutions to act to stop the aggression. At the same time, he drew a distinction between the Ethiopian government and the Ethiopian people, emphasizing Sudan's good relations with Ethiopian society, while accusing the government of continuing drone attacks on civilian facilities. Khalid added that Sudanese institutions are capable of protecting the country, and that Khartoum will continue to defend itself and raise its concerns at the international level.

Context of the conflict

The statement came after drones struck six power stations in Khartoum, Al-Jazira, Sennar and Al-Qadarif on Wednesday. The Sudanese government had previously accused Ethiopia of supporting the RSF and allowing drone launches from its territory; Addis Ababa rejected these accusations and stated that it respects Sudan's sovereignty. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has been ongoing since April 2023 due to disagreements over the integration of the group into the armed forces. According to UN and international organizations' estimates, it has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, displaced nearly 13 million, and worsened famine and the humanitarian crisis in the country.