The armed clashes began after Sudan blamed Ethiopian militiamen of killing four Sudanese troops in ambush, which Addis Ababa rejected. The immediate issue is a disputed area known as al-Fashaga, where the north-west of Ethiopia’s Amhara region meets Sudan’s breadbasket Gedaref state. Recently, Sudan said it took full control of the al-Fashaga area which Ethiopian farmers from the Amhara region had encroached over time. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Dina Mufti recently said Ethiopia has a firm stand to resolve the border conflict with Sudan through dialogue and believes war would not be a solution to the dispute. Ethiopia wants the Sudanese to compensate the burned-out communities; Sudan wants a return to the status quo.

Source: Ethiopian News January 08, 2021 19:07 UTC