Ethiopia accuses Sudanese army of cross-border criminality

JUBA – The government of Ethiopia on Saturday accused the Sudanese army of expanding their present into its territory and committing crimes including looting properties and falsely claiming border areas.

Speaking to reporters in Juba via video press conference from Ethiopia on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Ethiopian foreign ministry ambassador Dina Mufti said while the government enforces its ‘law enforcement’ operation in Tigray, the Sudanese army are encroaching deep inside his country’s territory.

“While the government of Ethiopia and the security apparatus are focusing on law enforcement mechanism operation  in the north [of Ethiopia], the Sudanese army are encroaching into Ethiopian territory, they looted properties, hurt people and they have continued as such,” Mufti told reporters in Juba.

Ambassador Mufti blamed the Sudanese government for refusing to cease what he called “unlawful acts.”

“This is against the history, and against the relationship between the two countries and this is overwhelming for the Sudanese, the Ethiopians and for the region as well,” he said.

He reiterated his government’s readiness to reach a peaceful settlement with Sudan over the border issue.

“We have been insisting, and reiterating to reach an amicable solution, in peacefully manner without involving in such unnecessary conflict which we are not expecting at the moment,” he expressed.

Since September 2020, tensions between the two countries have continued to escalate over disputed areas along their border.