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Sudanese Army Officer Killed in Attack by Ethiopian Militias

Sudanese military spokesman, Amer Mohammed al-Hassan. (SUNA)
Sudanese military spokesman, Amer Mohammed al-Hassan. (SUNA)
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Sudanese Army Officer Killed in Attack by Ethiopian Militias

Sudanese military spokesman, Amer Mohammed al-Hassan. (SUNA)
Sudanese military spokesman, Amer Mohammed al-Hassan. (SUNA)

A Sudanese military officer was killed and several soldiers wounded on Thursday in an attack by Ethiopian militias on the Sudanese side of the border with Ethiopia, the official SUNA news agency said.

In the eastern city of al-Qadarif, “Ethiopian militia penetrated through (the border) and attacked agricultural projects and clashed with military forces in Barkat Noreen camp,” SUNA added.

Sudan’s military spokesman said several soldiers were killed and wounded, blaming militias “supported by Ethiopia,” according to SUNA.

Military reinforcements were brought in to the area to drive out the militias back to the border.

Times of harvest in Sudan and Ethiopia often witness violations by outlawed Ethiopian militias, this time however, they were backed by Ethiopian forces, charged the Sudanese spokesman.

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France Expels 12 Algerian Officials in Tit-for-Tat Move amid Diplomatic Tensions

Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
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France Expels 12 Algerian Officials in Tit-for-Tat Move amid Diplomatic Tensions

Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)
Algerian flags fly at half-staff along the seaside walk in Algiers, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP)

France said Tuesday it was expelling 12 Algerian diplomatic officials a day after Algeria announced the expulsion of the same number of French officials in escalating tensions between the two countries.

Algeria said Monday that its expulsion of 12 French officials was over the arrest of an Algerian consular official by French authorities in a kidnapping case, but relations between the two sides have been deteriorating since last summer. That's when France shifted its position to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara — a disputed territory claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front, which receives support from Algeria.

Tensions further peaked in November after Algeria arrested French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is an outspoken critic of the Algerian regime. He has since been sentenced to five years in prison — a verdict he subsequently appealed.

In addition to what French officials called the "symmetrically" calibrated expulsion of 12 Algerian officials, France's ambassador to Algiers also was being recalled home for consultations, a statement from the French presidential palace said Tuesday.

It said Algerian authorities were responsible for "a brutal deterioration in our bilateral relations."

French counterterrorism prosecutors said three Algerian nationals in total were arrested last week and handed preliminary charges of "kidnapping or arbitrary detention … in connection with a terrorist undertaking."

The group is allegedly involved in the April 2024 kidnapping of an Algerian influencer, Amir Boukhors, or Amir DZ, a known critic of the Algerian government with 1.1 million followers on TikTok.

The latest surge in acrimony followed a brief easing of tensions about two weeks ago when French President Emmanuel Macron called Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune. French officials said they had agreed to revive bilateral relations.