Sudan formally accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday of orchestrating a drone attack on Khartoum International Airport, escalating regional tensions and threatening to drag more nations into the Horn of Africa’s deadliest conflict.
The accusation, delivered at a joint government press conference, marked the first time Sudan has publicly presented what it claims is forensic evidence of foreign involvement in attacks on its territory. Sudanese authorities have recalled their ambassador to Addis Ababa for consultations following the incident.
Military officials told a news conference on Tuesday that Sudan’s government had obtained evidence of four drone attacks since March 1 allegedly originating from neighboring Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport. Sudanese authorities claim the UAE provided the drones used in the attacks.
According to Sudanese military sources, the most significant evidence centers on a drone Sudan shot down in March. The sources claim subsequent analysis of its data indicated the drone belongs to the United Arab Emirates and had been operated from Ethiopian territory via Bahir Dar Airport, though these technical claims cannot be independently verified.
“What Ethiopia and the UAE have done is direct aggression against Sudan and won’t be met with silence,” a Sudanese military spokesperson said in statements reported by local media. Foreign ministry officials said that while Khartoum will not initiate attacks against other countries, Sudan was prepared to respond to further attacks.
The attack that triggered the diplomatic crisis occurred Monday at Khartoum International Airport, which is controlled by Sudan’s military and had recently resumed limited international operations after nearly three years of closure. The airport has been a key strategic site since fighting erupted between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.
Sudan’s Information Ministry initially said no one was wounded and no significant damage was caused by Monday’s attack. However, authorities subsequently announced a 72-hour suspension of airport operations for safety inspections, highlighting the disruption caused by the incident.
Both accused countries have denied involvement. The United Arab Emirates rejected Sudan’s allegations through an official statement on Tuesday. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also dismissed what it called “baseless accusations” and accused Sudan’s army of supporting armed groups from the Tigray region.
The accusations threaten to regionalize Sudan’s devastating civil war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. According to UN estimates from late 2024, more than 150,000 people have been killed, while approximately 14 million have been displaced. The UN has called the crisis the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.
The incident exposes deeper proxy warfare dynamics across the Horn of Africa. Regional analysts suggest the alleged involvement of Gulf powers reflects broader competition for influence across the Red Sea corridor and East Africa. Saudi Arabia has generally supported Sudan’s military government, while the UAE has faced accusations from rights groups of providing support to the RSF.
Rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have previously accused the UAE of providing arms to the RSF. Reuters reported in February 2024 that Ethiopia was allegedly hosting training camps for RSF fighters and had upgraded airports in border regions, though Ethiopian officials have denied these claims.
Alan Boswell, Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, warned that Sudan’s accusations against Ethiopia mark a dangerous escalation. “We are in an incredibly dangerous situation, where both sides view the other as actively helping their armed opponents,” Boswell told reporters this week. “All the ingredients are there for a much wider regional blow up.”
Regional powers have condemned the airport attack and called for de-escalation. Egypt and Saudi Arabia issued statements Tuesday condemning the attack on Khartoum airport and warned against external interference in Sudan’s conflict. Both countries have strategic interests in preventing further instability along the Nile corridor.
The diplomatic crisis comes as Sudan’s military-controlled government has been seeking to consolidate control over key infrastructure, including airports and ports. The RSF controls large parts of western Sudan and areas of the capital, while the military maintains control over northern and eastern regions.
International efforts to mediate the conflict have made limited progress, with talks in Saudi Arabia and other venues failing to produce lasting ceasefires. The alleged involvement of regional powers complicates diplomatic efforts and raises concerns about the conflict’s expansion beyond Sudan’s borders.
The airport incident underscores how drone warfare has become central to Sudan’s conflict, with both sides using unmanned aircraft for reconnaissance and attacks. The technology’s proliferation across the region has lowered barriers to cross-border operations and increased risks of international incidents.
As diplomatic tensions escalate, regional observers warn that miscalculations could trigger wider conflict in a region already struggling with multiple security challenges, from Somalia to the Red Sea shipping corridor.