Ethiopia Accuses Sudan of Violating Borders

On Tuesday, Ethiopia accused Sudan of violating its borders after monitoring some movements within the border region, calling for negotiations to address the crisis.

During a press conference, Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said that Addis Ababa has adopted the calm in the dispute with Sudan. He added that Ethiopia sought not to exaggerate the issue of the borders with Sudan and make it a regional issue, as it can be resolved with the two countries through dialogue, but this matter has limits.

"Our silence should not be considered a fear on the part of Ethiopia," Mufti added.

He added that Sudan took advantage of a security vacuum on the borders because of the war that the Ethiopian army fought in the Tigray region and exceeded the country's borders.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry called for dialogue on the border issue with Sudan, despite monitoring Sudanese movements within the Ethiopian borders.

Earlier Tuesday, Sudanese sources reported that the armed forces are strengthening their presence on the border after the killing of civilians by the hands of an Ethiopian militia, which carried out the criminal operation, according to Al Arabiya.

"Sudan Tribune" website reported that the attack took place during the corn harvesting operations on the border strip, which led to the Sudanese army's intervention, combing the area and pursuing the Ethiopian forces.

On Sunday, Sudan refused Sunday to split agreements on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), for the first filling and permanent operation as two separate ones.

During a bilateral meeting with the African Union, the Sudanese negotiating team called for reaching a single comprehensive agreement that would address all issues related to the GERD.

This meeting, which was held yesterday, came in response to Sudan’s call to give African Union a greater role in facilitating negotiations between Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

It aimed at contributing to the preparation of a second draft of the proposed memorandum of the agreement, which the three countries received at the previous six-party meeting at the beginning of this month, taking into account notes from all parties.

The country informed the AU on Thursday of its concerns about Addis Ababa’s announcement to proceed with filling the GERD for the second year in July without prior notification, signing an agreement, or sharing information.

The Minister of Irrigation Yasser Abbas sent a letter to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, who is presiding over the negotiations, warning that Ethiopia’s declaration represents a direct threat to the Roseires Dam and residents living on the banks of the Nile.

He referred to the negative impacts caused by the first filling in July 2020 on drinking water stations in the capital Khartoum.

Abbas affirmed that his country is committed to continuing negotiations on the dam under the auspices of the AU, but only if the methodology is modified by giving experts a greater role.