Sudan has accused Ethiopia of allowing its territory to be used as a launching ground for deadly drone attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raising fears of escalating tensions and a possible regional conflict.
The Sudanese government has reportedly submitted formal complaints to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union, alleging that the RSF has been using Ethiopian territory to launch attacks against civilian facilities, including electricity installations.
The accusations come as Sudan continues to battle the RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023.
A report prepared by Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and military intelligence claimed that 187 one-way attack drones were used in 70 separate assaults allegedly launched from Ethiopian territory between February and October 2026.
The report further revealed that October witnessed a significant increase in the attacks, with 97 drones reportedly involved in 28 separate incidents.
Sudanese authorities identified Asosa Airport, the Kurmuk-Gizen border area and Bahir Dar airbase in Ethiopia's Amhara region as suspected locations from which some of the attacks were launched.
The drone campaign has reportedly inflicted severe damage on Sudan's civilian infrastructure, particularly its electricity network. Sudanese border specialist Abdul Kareem Al-Almin Ahmed claimed that more than 90 per cent of power stations in Sudanese cities had been put out of operation.
He argued that the drones' long-range capabilities and destructive power suggested the involvement of external military support.
Figures presented by Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council indicated that drone attacks between February 15 and October 27 killed 660 people, comprising 176 soldiers and 484 civilians.
Among the deadliest incidents was an October 3 attack on displaced families in Wad el-Mahi, near the Ethiopian border, which killed 30 people, including 26 women and four children.
Another drone strike in Nyala, in Sudan's Darfur region, on October 26 reportedly killed at least 21 people and injured 40 others.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed alarm over the increasing use of drones in the conflict, condemning the devastating consequences for civilians.
Ethiopia, however, has rejected Sudan's accusations, while counter-accusing Khartoum of supporting armed groups associated with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Dispute Extends Beyond Drone Attacks
The disagreement between Sudan and Ethiopia reflects longstanding political and security tensions, particularly over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has remained a major source of disagreement among Nile Basin countries.
Sudan and Egypt have repeatedly expressed concerns about the dam's potential implications for their water security, while Ethiopia maintains that the project is essential for its development.
Analysts say Sudan's growing relationship with Egypt and Ethiopia's alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict have further complicated relations between the neighbouring countries.
Despite the worsening diplomatic situation, regional experts believe both governments are reluctant to engage in direct military confrontation.
African studies professor Badr Hassan Al-Shafei warned that opening another military front against Ethiopia could further weaken Sudan, whose armed forces are already engaged in intense fighting against the RSF.
He cautioned that a confrontation could trigger additional displacement, worsen the humanitarian crisis and destabilise neighbouring countries.
With millions of Sudanese already displaced by the war and civilian infrastructure suffering extensive destruction, observers warn that any direct confrontation between Sudan and Ethiopia could turn the country's internal conflict into a much wider regional crisis.
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