Diplomatic Crisis Deepens as Sudan Recalls Ambassador Over Drone Allegations
Addis Ababa and Abu Dhabi deny involvement, citing Sudan's history of supporting regional mercenaries and deflecting blame.
The Sudanese government has recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa following a series of drone attacks that have shattered a brief period of stability in the capital. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab announced on Tuesday that the government has obtained evidence linking four drone attacks since March 1 to Ethiopia's Bahir Dar airport. The Sudanese administration further alleges that the United Arab Emirates supplied the technology used in these strikes.
Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem warned that while Sudan will not initiate attacks against other nations, it is prepared for open confrontation with Ethiopia if necessary. These comments follow a strike on Monday at Khartoum International Airport, which had recently resumed international flights after a three-year hiatus. Abdelwahab stated that the government views the actions as direct aggression and refused to meet them with silence.
Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically rejected the accusations as baseless. In response, the Ethiopian government blamed Sudan for supporting Tigrayan mercenaries and providing arms to anti-Ethiopian forces. The statement noted that Sudan is serving as a hub for various hostile actions, a claim made by officials on the X platform.
The United Arab Emirates has also denied involvement in Sudan's civil war, describing the allegations as a calculated pattern of deflection. An unnamed UAE official told the AFP news agency that such fabrications are intended to prolong the war and obstruct a genuine peace process by shifting blame to external patrons.
The escalation occurs against the backdrop of a bloody civil war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces that began in April 2023. Specific attacks cited by Sudan include strikes on Omdurman, which killed five people, and Gezira, which targeted relatives of a commander allied with the Sudanese military.
Alan Boswell, Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, noted that the reciprocal accusations create a dangerous dynamic that risks regionalising the conflict. He observed that while de-escalation efforts have historically been possible, the current trajectory threatens to draw in outside backers and complicate the internal challenges facing both nations.
