Sudan ‘exercising restraint’ amid tension with Ethiopia over disputed region

ISTANBUL (AA) – Sudan has said that it is exercising self-restraint amid ongoing tension with Ethiopia over the killing of seven Sudanese soldiers.

“The government’s duty is to defend its territory and citizens,” Foreign Ministry undersecretary Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali said in a statement carried by the state news agency SUNA.

“Sudan is exercising restraint to prevent an escalation with Ethiopia,” he added.

The Sudanese diplomat met with UK Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather on Tuesday, during which Al-Hajj Ali shed light on developments in the disputed Al-Fashqa border area.

“Ethiopian forces entered Sudanese territory and kidnapped seven soldiers and a civilian, executed them and mutilated their bodies,” Al-Hajj Ali said.

“The Ethiopian practices don’t comply with international conventions and norms and the nature of the relationship between the two countries,” he added.

Fairweather was quoted by SUNA as saying that “it’s not in the interest of the two countries to escalate the situation,” hailing “Sudan’s stance and its exercise of restraint to prevent an escalation.”

On Sunday, the Sudanese army had accused Ethiopia of executing seven soldiers and a citizen.

Ethiopia, however, has said that it’s ready to co-investigate the incident with Sudan, voicing hope that the Sudanese government would distance itself from any escalation.

Earlier, tensions had escalated between Sudan and Ethiopia over the al-Fashaqa Triangle.

Sudan had said on December 31, 2020, that it had established its control over the Sudanese territory where Ethiopian militias were present. On the other hand, Ethiopia accuses Sudan’s military of occupying what it considers Ethiopian territory.