Sudan has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia amid rising tensions after accusing Addis Ababa of launching drone attacks on key facilities in the capital, officials said Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Mohi El-Din Salem said the envoy had been summoned for consultations following what he described as “aggression” linked to strikes that targeted infrastructure in Khartoum on Monday.
“The drones that attacked Sudanese facilities yesterday were launched from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar Airport,” Salem said in a statement, adding that Sudan reserves the right to respond.
“We do not seek to initiate aggression against any country, but whoever attacks us will be responded to,” he said, warning that Khartoum was prepared for “open confrontation” if necessary.
The accusations mark a sharp escalation in already strained relations between the two neighboring countries, which have previously clashed over border disputes and regional security issues.
In a separate statement, Asim Awad Abdelwahab, spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces, said the military would retaliate forcefully.
“Our armed forces will respond twice as hard,” he said, adding that the army had “confirmed information regarding Ethiopia’s participation in the aggression.”
The reported strikes targeted Khartoum International Airport as well as military sites across the capital, triggering explosions and plumes of smoke, according to official accounts.
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No casualties or material damage have been confirmed, Sudan’s Ministry of Culture and Information said, though authorities moved quickly to secure key installations.
Airport staff were evacuated and the facility was closed for 72 hours as a precaution, with officials saying operations would resume once safety procedures are completed.
Additional strikes were reported near the Signal Corps in Bahri, north of the capital, and at the Al-Markhiyat camp in Omdurman. Authorities have not released detailed assessments of potential damage at those sites.
Ethiopia has not immediately responded publicly to the accusations.
The incident comes against the backdrop of Sudan’s ongoing internal conflict, which has seen increasing use of drone warfare by rival factions, raising concerns about the risks posed to civilians and critical infrastructure.
Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has devastated large parts of the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions, according to international estimates.
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Analysts say the introduction of external actors into the conflict — if confirmed — could significantly widen the scope of the crisis and further destabilize the region.
Sudan’s warning of possible retaliation raises fears of a broader interstate confrontation in the Horn of Africa, a region already grappling with multiple security challenges.
Observers note that relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa have been fragile in recent years, particularly over disputed border areas such as al-Fashaga and tensions linked to regional geopolitical dynamics.
The latest developments are likely to heighten diplomatic efforts to contain the situation, though no immediate mediation initiatives have been announced.
For now, Sudanese authorities say their priority remains safeguarding national sovereignty and responding to what they describe as external threats, while maintaining internal security amid a protracted and complex conflict.
As investigations into the drone attacks continue, the risk of escalation between the two countries remains a growing concern for regional stability.
