Tensions have been falling between the two countries for decades over the disputed Al-Fashqa region, which falls on the Sudanese side of their disputed border. On Wednesday, the situation continued to escalate after Sudanese accused Ethiopian military aircraft of violating Sudan’s airspace.
During a visit to the eastern state of Gedaref on Wednesday, where Al-Fashqa, the chairman of the Sovereign Transitional Council (TSC) and the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese armed forces, Lt. General Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan addressed the soldiers stationed at the border.
“We are all unwavering here until our right is proved by force, good faith or any other method. This is our land and we have the legitimate right to defend and protect it by all available means,” he said.
A video posted on TSC’s Facebook page with Burhan’s remarks showed them that he had told them that Sudan would not return from the military confrontation.
“How long do we have to be patient? Everything has a limit and this situation has exceeded its limits. This is our land and we are all willing to die here for this earth, to the last man standing.”
“How long will Ethiopia continue to solve the problem using diplomacy? Well, there is nothing that has no limit. Everything has a limit,” Mufti said.
The Ethiopian government did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. An Ethiopian military spokesman told AFP news that he had “no tangible information” about Sudan’s allegations, and the border situation was “normal” on Wednesday.
More than 80 civilians were killed in a border attack on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) told CNN.
“The information we received shows that more than 80 civilians were massacred in the Metekel area of Benishangul-Gumuz in an early morning attack,” said Aaron Maasho.
The EHRC, which describes itself as an “independent national” institution, is still gathering details and has not said who could have committed the attack.
“These kinds of terrible incidents have been going on for far too long. There is no other option than federal and regional authorities to increase the security presence in the area and strengthen coordination between them – a call made by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission again, “Maasho added.
The Ethiopian government has been conducting a military campaign in its Tigray region, which borders Sudan, since November. Sudanese civil society groups told CNN they feared that escalating tensions between the two countries would only serve to fracture the region.