Sudan: Authorities to increase security posture in Al Qadarif State following clashes Dec. 15

Event

Authorities in Sudan's in Al-Qadarif State have deployed additional security personnel along the shared border with Ethiopia, following clashes Dec. 15. Ethiopian militants reportedly killed several Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) personnel in a cross-border attack in Um Altyour (Abu Tyour) in the Al-Fashaq border area. Sudan accused the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) of backing the militants in the incidents. Ethiopian authorities have confirmed the incident but have not provided additional details.

Context

Armed clashes have occurred in the past along the border between the two countries, particularly in the contested area between Sudan's Al Qadarif State and Ethiopia's Amhara Region. A bilateral agreement between Ethiopian officials and former President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir allowed Ethiopian farmers to grow their crops in Sudan's Al-Fashaq border area. Sudanese authorities requested a review of this agreement after Bashir's fall, following increased pressure from local Sudanese farmers.

Negations on the status of the disputed territory are ongoing; both parties concluded a Joint High-level Political Border Committee Meeting regarding these issues in Addis Ababa May 16. Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa Dec. 13. The leaders agreed to resume cross-border talks in Khartoum in late December.