Addis Ababa orders six Sudanese consular staff in Assosa to leave within 48 hours amid rising border tensions, mutual accusations of proxy involvement, and fears of regional conflict escalation
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Ethiopian authorities have ordered six diplomats from the Sudanese Consulate in Assosa to leave the country within 48 hours, escalating diplomatic friction along the shared border.
The expulsion targets consular staff in Assosa, the capital of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. Authorities in Addis Ababa issued the notice without providing an official public explanation, and official press representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
The move follows escalating mutual accusations of cross-border involvement in regional conflicts. Authorities in Khartoum contend that Ethiopia aids the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claiming that RSF forces used Ethiopian territory as a staging ground for drone strikes against Sudanese infrastructure. Sudan has formally presented these grievances to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council.
Ethiopian officials maintain counter-allegations against Sudan, accusing Khartoum of providing logistical and other support to insurgent factions active in the northern Tigray region. Addis Ababa also pointed to regional involvement by Egypt and Eritrea. All implicated governments deny participating in proxy activities.
Earlier reports indicated the presence of an RSF training installation within the Benishangul-Gumuz border corridor. Ethiopian representatives rejected claims of backing the RSF, while officials from the United Arab Emirates maintained that their government is not involved in the conflict.
The diplomatic rift deepens concerns that internal fighting within both states could spill across international borders. Amjad Farid, Political and Foreign Affairs Advisor to Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, noted that while Sudan retains its right to self-defense, its priority remains avoiding direct military conflict with Ethiopia. The conflict in Sudan, triggered by political disputes following the removal of former President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, has displaced over 14 million people, according to UN metrics.
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