Tensions between the two countries have plagued for decades over the disputed Al-Fashqa region, which falls on the Sudanese side of their disputed border. On Wednesday, the situation escalated further after Sudanese accused Ethiopian military planes of violating Sudan’s airspace.
During a visit on Wednesday to the eastern Gedaref state, where Al-Fashqa is located, the president of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and commander-in-chief of Sudan’s armies, Lt.Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan addressed soldiers stationed at the border.
“We are all steadfast with you here until our right is proved by force, in good faith or in any other way. This is our country and we have the legal right to defend and protect it in all available ways,” he said. said.
A video posted on the TSC Facebook page of Burhan’s comments showed how Sudan would withdraw from military confrontation.
“How long do we have to be patient? Everything has a limit and this situation has exceeded its limits. This is our country and we are all prepared to die here for this country, until the last man stands.”
“How long will Ethiopia continue to solve the problem through diplomacy? There is nothing that has no limit. Everything has a limit,” Mufti said.
The Ethiopian government did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. An Ethiopian military spokesman told AFP news agency he had no “tangible information” about Sudan’s allegations and the situation at the border was “normal” on Wednesday.
More than 80 civilians were killed in an attack along the border on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) told CNN.
“The information we received shows that more than 80 civilians were killed in an early morning attack in Benishangul – Gumuz’s Metekel zone,” Aaron Maasho said.
The EHRC, which describes itself as an ‘independent national’ institution, is still gathering details and does not say who committed the attack.
“These kinds of horrific incidents have been going on for far too long. There is no option but for federal and regional authorities to promote the presence of security in the area and strengthen coordination between them – a call made by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission again. , ‘Maasho added.
The Ethiopian government has been conducting a military campaign in its Tigray region, which borders Sudan, since November. Sudanese civil society groups told CNN they feared increasing tensions between the two countries would further break the region.