Ethiopian Army Shoot Dead 5 Sudanese Women Near Border Areas

On Tuesday, a Sudanese military official said that the Ethiopian army launched an attack on an area inside the  Sudanese borders in the state of Gedaref in eastern Sudan bordering Ethiopia, killing 5 women.

The Sudanese official said in statements to "Al Sharq" TV, that "Ethiopian armed forces launched an attack on the Layyah area in Al-Qaraysha locality, within the Sudanese borders, at a depth of 5 kilometers, in the lands of Al-Fashaqa in the state of Gedaref, which led to casualties."

He  added, "The Sudanese Armed Forces are acting responsibly within the borders of their territories, and are working to secure Sudanese farmers," stressing that there are no "aggressive intentions towards Ethiopia."

With regard to the Ethiopian army’s conducting of exploratory and show of strength sorties over the Sudanese depth, the Sudanese official said, "The situation on the Sudanese-Ethiopian borders is relatively stable, amid a state of mobilization and alert that has continued for weeks between the two sides."

He stressed that the Sudanese Armed Forces, "will continue to defend and impose its sovereignty over all Sudanese lands in the Al-Fashaqa area, and will strengthen its support and forces, to protect civilian farmers."

On the other hand, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, said that "Sudan continues its illegal activities on the Ethiopian borders," adding that Ethiopia "has been at war with external forces several times, but knows that the war is of no use."

The Mufti pointed out that "several parties in their interest have dragged Sudan and Ethiopia into the conflict," stressing that his country "does not put the option of war in its calculations."

The head of the Sudanese Commission for Border Demarcation denied Ethiopia's allegations and accusations of the Sudanese army of breaking into its territory.

The Sudanese official stressed that the areas in which the army was deployed east of Atbara River are all Sudanese.

He said in statements quoted by the media that Sudan  challenges Ethiopia to determine the Ethiopian sites where the Sudanese army is located."