Ethiopia Expels Sudanese Consular Staff Amid Regional Tensions
Six Sudanese consular workers were ordered to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours, following recent attacks on Sudan's electricity infrastructure.
Ethiopia has expelled six Sudanese consular staff and ordered the closure of Sudan’s consulate in Assosa, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The move comes after reported drone strikes on Sudan’s electricity infrastructure, which have left the country grappling with substantial displacement and humanitarian challenges.
The six staff members were given just 48 hours to depart Ethiopia, highlighting the swift and decisive nature of the action taken by Ethiopian authorities. This decision is reportedly part of a broader pattern of diplomatic maneuvers, following similar expulsions of Eritrean and Egyptian diplomats earlier this year. According to several outlets, the attacks on Sudan’s electricity infrastructure occurred on a Sunday, impacting towns such as Al-Dabbah and Abu Hamad.
Sudan’s army-aligned government has lodged formal complaints against Ethiopia at both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. These complaints include allegations that Ethiopia permitted the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) to use its territory for launching drone attacks on Sudan. The ongoing Sudanese war, which began in April 2023, has already displaced over 14 million people, underscoring the severe impact of these conflicts on the region’s population.
In addition to the expulsion of Sudanese staff, Ethiopia has also taken action against Eritrean diplomats, closing its embassy in Asmara and declaring ten Eritrean diplomats persona non grata. This move came alongside Ethiopia’s accusation that Eritrea and Egypt supported Tigrayan rebels, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the Horn of Africa.
What we know
- Six Sudanese consular staff were expelled from Ethiopia.
- Sudan’s consulate in Assosa, Ethiopia, was ordered to close.
- The six staff members were given 48 hours to leave Ethiopia.
- Drones reportedly attacked Sudan’s electricity infrastructure in Al-Dabbah and Abu Hamad.
- Sudan lodged formal complaints against Ethiopia with the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council.
- Sudan’s complaints included accusations that Ethiopia allowed the RSF to use Ethiopian territory for drone attacks on Sudan.
- The Sudanese war, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 14 million people.
- This expulsion follows previous actions by Ethiopia against Eritrean and Egyptian diplomats.
- Attacks on Sudan’s electricity infrastructure occurred on a Sunday.
- Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, ordering them to leave within 48 hours.
- Ethiopia accused Eritrea and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebels.
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 70%, weighted across 14 claims from 2 independent outlets.
- confirmed Six Sudanese consular staff were expelled from Ethiopia. (85%)
- confirmed Sudan’s consulate in Assosa, Ethiopia, was ordered to close. (85%)
- confirmed The six staff members were given 48 hours to leave Ethiopia. (85%)
- likely Drones attacked Sudan’s electricity infrastructure in the towns of Al-Dabbah and Abu Hamad. (71%)
- likely Sudan's army-aligned government lodged formal complaints against Ethiopia with the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. (71%)
- likely The complaints from Sudan included accusations that Ethiopia allowed the RSF to use Ethiopian territory for drone attacks on Sudan. (71%)
- likely Sudan's war, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 14 million people. (71%)
- unverified Sudan accuses drones attacking its infrastructure of being launched from Ethiopian territory. (50%)
- likely This expulsion follows previous actions by Ethiopia against Eritrean and Egyptian diplomats. (71%)
- likely The attacks on Sudan’s electricity infrastructure occurred on a Sunday. (71%)
- likely Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, ordering them to leave within 48 hours. (71%)
- likely Ethiopia accused Eritrea and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan rebels. (71%)
- unverified Assosa is a western city near the Sudanese border in Ethiopia. (50%)
- unverified The six staff members were from Sudan's consulate in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. (50%)
Sources
- ABC News — Ethiopia expels 6 Sudanese consular staff and orders consulate closed, officials say
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/ethiopia-expels-6-sudanese-consular-staff-orders-consulate-137852985 - AllAfrica — Ethiopia: Ethiopia Expels Sudanese Diplomats As Regional Tensions Deepen
https://allafrica.com/stories/202611040529.html