Sundanese army fire artillery at disputed common border with Ethiopia

Destroyed Ethiopian military vehicles in Barkhat settlement on June 28, 2022 [Photo: Sudan Tribune]

ADDIS ABABA - The Sudanese National Army confirmed firing heavy artillery at the disputed border point with Ethiopia, signifying a possible clash that derail efforts to restore peace between the two neighboring countries within the Horn of Africa.

According to Reuters, the Sudanese army was able to retake Jabal Kala al-Laban town near the disputed border point, following a series of airstrikes. A senior military official from Sudan also confirmed the incident on the condition of anonymity.

Ethiopia, which has been at loggerheads with Sudan, on Monday disputed reports that her soldiers had executed seven colleagues from Sudan and a civilian. Instead, the Ethiopian army added, the deaths were engineered by a local militia.

Already, multiple sources from the government of Sudan indicate that Khartoum has filed a formal complaint at the United Nations Security Council over the unfortunate killings. No further details were given by the Northern African nation.

Sudan's army fired long-distance artillery from Monday morning until Tuesday afternoon, but nobody was injured, said Assefa Ashege, a senior security official in Ethiopia's Amhara region. The region borders Sudan to the West.

Locals who spoke to Reuters said the Sudanese army had gained control of Jabal Kala al-Laban and had destroyed a military base there. It was unclear if the base belonged to the Ethiopian army or an allied militia.

However, a senior military official from Sudan did not respond to a request for comment. Ethiopia's government spokesperson Legesse Tulu did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ethiopian military officials referred Reuters to a statement issued on Monday that described a previous border clash but did not comment on the reported shelling. In a statement Sudan's military disputed what it said were reports of movements and the taking of prisoners, Reuters noted.

At the center of the dispute is al-Fashqa, which lies within Sudan's international boundaries but has been settled by Ethiopian farmers for decades, has escalated in recent years alongside a diplomatic spat over Ethiopia's construction of a hydropower dam.

Throughout the Tigray war in Ethiopia, Sudan has been hosting several refugees from neighboring Ethiopia and the latest incident could further strain the relationship between the two countries. Both countries are struggling with instability for decades now.

GAROWE ONLINE