Sudan blames Ethiopia, UAE for recent drone attacks: What we know

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Sudan has recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa and the United Arab Emirates of being behind a drone attack on Khartoum International Airport on Monday, according to multiple reports. The Sudanese government also claims to have evidence of several attacks launched from Ethiopian territory with UAE-supplied drones.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the incident has been consistent across international outlets, with reports appearing in Al Jazeera, Reuters, the Associated Press, the Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, The Hindu, and Africa News. Most outlets frame the story as Sudan making accusations, with some highlighting the diplomatic escalation and others focusing on the military details.

Al Jazeera's reporting emphasizes Sudan's accusation against both Ethiopia and the UAE, describing the attack as "direct aggression" in its coverage. Reuters, which could not independently verify the claims, noted that neither Ethiopia nor the UAE immediately commented. The Associated Press, which had reporting carried by multiple outlets, provided details on the drone being intercepted.

Some outlets, such as AllAfrica and The Reporter, gave prominence to Ethiopia's response, quoting its foreign ministry's statement accusing Sudan of supporting "TPLF mercenaries." This adversarial framing reflects the sharpening mutual accusations.

Key claims

• Sudan's military says it has evidence that four drone attacks since March 1 originated from Bahir Dar airport in Ethiopia, and that the UAE supplied the drones.
• The drone attack on Khartoum International Airport on Monday was shot down by air defenses, according to airport officials quoted by the Associated Press.
• Sudan has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations, a move announced by Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem.
• Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and accused Sudan of arming and funding "mercenaries" from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
• A senior TPLF official, Amanuel Assefa, denied any connection with Sudanese authorities, telling AFP that the Ethiopian government is blaming others for its own failures.
• The UAE has repeatedly denied supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), despite widespread accusations, though it has not commented on the latest allegations.

Perspectives

Sudanese government perspective: The military-aligned government, through its foreign minister and army spokesman, asserts that the attacks are "direct aggression" and warns that they will not be met with silence. They claim to possess evidence linking Ethiopia and the UAE to the drone strikes.

Ethiopian government perspective: Addis Ababa rejects the allegations as baseless, accusing Sudan of hosting and supporting anti-Ethiopian forces, including TPLF elements. Ethiopia says it has shown restraint in not publicizing Sudan's violations of its territorial integrity.

UAE position: The UAE has not responded to the latest accusations, but has consistently denied providing support to the RSF. This denial is noted across multiple reports.

International observers: Analysts such as Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group warn that the escalation risks worsening the internal challenges facing both countries, as cited in Al Jazeera's coverage.