Sudan Asserts It Will Not Wage War Against Ethiopia

Ethiopians who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region, carry their belongings on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in Hamdayet village in eastern Kassala state, Sudan (File photo: Reuters)
Ethiopians who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region, carry their belongings on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in Hamdayet village in eastern Kassala state, Sudan (File photo: Reuters)
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Sudan Asserts It Will Not Wage War Against Ethiopia

Ethiopians who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region, carry their belongings on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in Hamdayet village in eastern Kassala state, Sudan (File photo: Reuters)
Ethiopians who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region, carry their belongings on the Sudan-Ethiopia border in Hamdayet village in eastern Kassala state, Sudan (File photo: Reuters)

The Sudanese Sovereign Council asserted there is no decision to wage war against Ethiopia over the border conflict, reiterating its keenness to enhance the bilateral relations, without giving up "one inch" of Sudan's territory.

In a press release obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the council reported that Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta affirmed Sudan's keenness to strengthen its bilateral ties with Ethiopia, as a friendly neighbor.

Atta was confident that Sudan will not wage a war against its neighbor, asserting that Khartoum wants to pursue a peaceful solution, without making concessions about its territory.

The council member visited Djibouti within the framework of the Sudanese campaign aimed at explaining the situation with Ethiopia. He met with the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim, and a number of national army officials.

He explained that Khartoum has documents determining the borders between the two counties, noting that these documents are also with international and regional institutions and organizations.

The armed forces feared that developments in Sudan would lead to chaos and threaten national security, as happened in a number of neighboring and friendly countries, which prompted it to work diligently to overcome the complexities of that stage, according to Atta.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian refugees continued to flee from the Tigray region following the tensions and clashes between local forces and Ethiopian federal forces.

About 67,000 Ethiopian refugees arrived in Sudan since the civil war erupted in the region, according to the Sudan Commission for Refugees.

The Commission indicated that 34 new refugees arrived in the Hamdayet area in the Kassala border state, bringing the number of refugees in the state to 48,027, while five other refugees arrived in “City 8” in al-Gadarif state, raising the total number of refugees to 18,094.

According to the report issued Monday, the total number of Ethiopian refugees in Kassala and Gadarif in eastern Sudan reached 66,971 since the outbreak of the civil war in the Ethiopian Tigray region.



UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
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UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)

The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reaffirmed its authority to move freely and conduct patrols with or without Lebanese army presence, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The statement came after an incident in the town of Srifa, where local residents intercepted a UNIFIL patrol. A man climbed onto a UN vehicle and raised a Hezbollah flag in protest over the absence of a Lebanese army escort.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in place since November 2023.

Southern Lebanese villages, particularly those south of the Litani River, appeared nearly deserted during the Eid al-Adha holiday. In contrast to the crowds seen during Eid al-Fitr, most streets were empty, with only a few remaining residents visible.

The destruction caused by Israeli attacks has prevented many from returning to their homes in border villages. Continuous drone surveillance and frequent airstrikes have further discouraged residents from even briefly visiting their damaged properties.

Those who did visit on the first day of Eid described their trips as “urgent and brief,” citing the persistent threat of renewed attacks.

Israeli forces have been accused of several violations in recent days. Local media reported the abduction of a Lebanese shepherd near the town of Shebaa, as well as the injury of a civilian after an Israeli drone dropped two stun grenades in the town of Houla. Heavy machine gun fire was also reported near the towns of Rmeish and Aita al-Shaab.

UNIFIL confirmed the Srifa incident, with spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stating that a group of civilians stopped a scheduled patrol. “The peacekeepers were able to resume their duties after the Lebanese army intervened,” he said.

Tenenti emphasized that Resolution 1701 grants UNIFIL full freedom of movement, adding: “While we coordinate closely with the Lebanese army, freedom of movement is essential to fulfill our mandate.”

Incidents involving local opposition to UNIFIL patrols have become more frequent in recent weeks. With more than 400 patrols conducted daily in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army is unable to accompany all of them due to limited manpower.

UNIFIL continues to view its presence as vital to regional stability, and discussions are underway to extend its mandate beyond August.