Sudan’s military has rejected accusations from Ethiopia that Khartoum is supporting armed groups fighting the federal government, calling the allegations “baseless” as renewed fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, accused Sudan, Egypt and Eritrea of backing forces opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. He said the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies could not sustain their campaign without outside support. Sudan’s Armed Forces denied the allegations, saying the country respects international law and the principle of non-interference in neighboring states.
The military instead accused Ethiopia of allowing support for Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from Ethiopian territory, including alleged training and logistical assistance. Ethiopia has previously denied similar accusations. The exchange comes as fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces has escalated, threatening the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement that ended a two-year war in Tigray. The renewed clashes have spread beyond Tigray into parts of Afar and Amhara, raising concerns about a wider regional crisis.
The previous Tigray war caused extensive civilian suffering and displacement. Estimates of the death toll vary, with the African Union-linked estimate often cited at more than 600,000 deaths, including deaths from fighting, hunger and the collapse of health services. The latest escalation has also disrupted communications in Tigray and affected transport links. On Monday, Ethiopian government forces and allied fighters claimed to have captured the strategic town of Alamata, highlighting the rapidly changing situation on the ground. Egypt and Eritrea have also faced accusations from Addis Ababa, although the countries have not publicly accepted the claims. The growing exchange of allegations between Ethiopia and its neighbours has added to concerns that the renewed Tigray conflict could acquire a broader regional dimension.
