Home / War and Conflict / Ethiopia Accuses Sudan, Egypt of Backing Tigray Rebels
Ethiopia Accuses Sudan, Egypt of Backing Tigray Rebels
28 Sep
Summary
- Ethiopian army chief accused Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebels.
- Sudan denied allegations and counterclaimed RSF receives Ethiopian support.
- Fighting resumed, sparking fears of a return to the devastating civil war.
Heavy clashes have reignited between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), prompting Ethiopian army commander Field Marshal Birhanu Jula to accuse Sudan and Egypt of supporting the rebel forces. Jula stated on Sunday that these external powers are providing crucial backing, support, and supplies to the TPLF.
Sudan's military has vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as baseless. In a counter-claim, Sudan alleged that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), currently engaged in a civil war within Sudan, are receiving support from Ethiopian territory, including training and drone activity.
The renewed fighting, which began on Wednesday, mirrors the 2020-2022 civil war, a conflict that resulted in approximately 600,000 fatalities. Fears of a recurrence are palpable as the situation unfolds.
Recent developments include a drone strike on Tigrai TV's headquarters in Mekelle on Sunday, a move that follows significant communication disruptions across the Tigray region since Friday. The source of this communications blackout remains unclear, with speculation pointing to either the federal government or the TPLF.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman expressed concern over reports of drone usage and civilian harm, though specific casualty figures are unconfirmed. The TPLF has taken control of airports and launched offensives into neighboring Afar and Amhara states, asserting a defensive stance.
Reports indicate the Ethiopian army has seized Alamata city in southern Tigray and is advancing further. Meanwhile, TPLF fighters reportedly captured Erebti in the Afar region, with aspirations to advance towards Afdera. This offensive in Afar aims to disrupt vital supply lines from Djibouti, a key import hub for Ethiopia.
A newly formed alliance of six armed groups, the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival, has emerged, uniting former adversaries with the stated goal of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. This alliance signals a potential broadening of the conflict.
