Sudan accuses Ethiopia, UAE of drone attacks

Sudan’s military leadership on Monday accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of direct involvement in attacks on Sudanese territory, citing what it described as documented evidence of drone operations launched from Ethiopian soil.

In a press briefing, the Sudanese military said three drones conducted “hostile aerial attacks” on March 1 from an airport in Bahir Dar, targeting multiple regions including White Nile, Blue Nile, and North and South Kordofan states. It also stated that Sudanese air defenses shot down one of the drones on March 17. Analysis of the aircraft, along with communication with its manufacturer, indicated that the drone, identified by serial number S88, belonged to the UAE and had been operated from Ethiopian territory, according to the military.

Sudan alleged that the drone had carried out repeated strikes in areas including Kurmuk in Blue Nile state and parts of Kordofan before being downed north of El Obeid.

The military also said that from May 1 onward, another drone launched from Bahir Dar had entered Sudanese airspace and was tracked to the Jabal Awliya area, where it targeted Khartoum International Airport and surrounding locations before being engaged.

The Sudanese officials described the alleged actions by Ethiopia and the UAE as “direct aggression” and a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty and international law. It added that Sudan’s armed forces were prepared to respond to any threats.

Sudan’s representative to the United Nations, Ammar Mahmoud, has warned unnamed countries about their involvement in the Sudan conflict. In a post on his official X account, Mahmoud wrote, “Whoever helps ignite a fire in his neighbor’s house will inevitably find the flames reaching his own.”

Ethiopia has responded to the allegations, rejecting what it described as “baseless accusations” made by Sudan’s armed forces. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that remarks delivered during a press conference by Sudanese military officials were unfounded and undermined the longstanding ties between the two countries.

“The peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan share a historic and enduring bond of friendship,” the ministry said, adding that Addis Ababa had exercised restraint despite what it described as “grave violations” of its territorial integrity and national security linked to the Sudanese civil war.

Ethiopia accused unnamed elements involved in Sudan’s conflict of using fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as mercenaries. It also alleged that Sudan’s armed forces had provided them with arms and financial support to facilitate incursions along Ethiopia’s western border.

The ministry further stated that there was “ample and credible evidence” that Sudan was serving as a hub for anti-Ethiopian forces. It claimed that the accusations made by Sudanese officials were driven by “external patrons” pursuing their own agendas.

In March this year, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry reported that it had been tracking drones allegedly entering its airspace from Ethiopia during February and early March, describing these incidents as “hostile actions” that breached its sovereignty. According to the ministry, the drones carried out strikes inside Sudanese territory, which it denounced as “acts of aggression and violations of Sudanese territorial integrity.”

Although the United Arab Emirates’ involvement in Sudan’s war has been widely documented, with numerous reports pointing to Abu Dhabi’s deep and sustained support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Ethiopia’s role has only recently begun to come into the spotlight. Unlike the UAE’s actions, which have been the subject of extensive international scrutiny, Ethiopia’s involvement has emerged more gradually, with new evidence and reports shedding light on its growing influence in the conflict.

A Reuters investigation found that Ethiopia is hosting a secret military training facility aimed at preparing thousands of fighters to support the RSF, potentially signaling its first confirmed direct role in Sudan’s civil war. Citing multiple Ethiopian, diplomatic, and security sources, the investigation found that the camp is located in the Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese border, where recruits are being trained for deployment as fighting intensifies in southern Sudan. Several sources, including a senior Ethiopian official, alleged that the United Arab Emirates funded the construction and provided training and logistical support.

Sources said most recruits are Ethiopians, alongside fighters from Sudan and South Sudan, with some reportedly already crossing into Sudan’s Blue Nile state to assist RSF operations. Additional satellite analysis showed the camp was built on cleared forest land near the town of Menge, with visible tents, vehicles, and signs of ongoing expansion. Nearby, developments at Asosa airport, about 53 km away, include new hangars, upgraded runways, and infrastructure believed to support drone operations, which Ethiopian officials reportedly described as part of broader military preparations along the western border.

Ethiopia’s involvement is emerging at a time when Addis Ababa has been deepening its ties with Abu Dhabi. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has become one of the UAE’s closest allies in the region. In the early months of the Sudan conflict, he attempted to broker a deal between the warring factions. However, as the conflict has evolved and the involvement of regional actors has expanded, Ethiopia has increasingly become entangled in it. When reports of a base in Benishangul-Gumuz emerged, senior Ethiopian officials indicated that they would not remain “bystanders” in the conflict.