Ethiopia accuses Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebel forces

Ethiopia’s Army Commander Accuses Sudan, Egypt of Supporting Rebel Groups

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Ethiopia’s army commander, has accused Sudan and Egypt of backing armed groups fighting against his country’s troops in the north. Heavy clashes resumed between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government on Wednesday.

In a statement on Sunday, Jula claimed that “fighting forces organized to serve external interests” were operating in the region. He also stated that these forces would not achieve any gains without support from Sudan, Egypt, and other external powers.

The Sudanese military denied the allegations, calling them “baseless.” In response, they alleged that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting against the government since 2023, was receiving support from within Ethiopia’s territory. This includes training, supplies, and military activity involving drones.

The TPLF has been engaged in a “defensive war” against the government, seizing airports and launching attacks into neighboring states of Afar and Amhara. According to reports, the Ethiopian army has seized control of the city of Alamata in southern Tigray and is advancing towards Mekhoni and Maychew.

The United Nations chief’s spokesman stated that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “particularly troubled by reports of drone use and harm to civilians.” However, no exact figures on casualties have been confirmed. The conflict has raised fears of a return to the 2020-2022 civil war, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths.

Communications disruptions have also affected reporting on the conflict, with phone and internet services limited since Friday. The TPLF’s headquarters was hit by a drone on Sunday, following a significant communications disruption in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera