Sudan ‘closes border with Ethiopia’ over tension in Tigray region
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Sudan has closed the border between its eastern Kassala State and Ethiopia due to ongoing tension in Ethiopian Tigray region.
According to the state-owned Suna news agency the announcement was made by Governor of the state, Fateh al-Rahman al-Amin.
Al-Amin has said that the border will remain closed until further notice as Ethiopia struggles to end the tension.
The state media reported that the governor intends traveling to Wad Al Helew, a village in Kassala State bordering Ethiopia and Eritrea, to assess the situation.
On Wednesday Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy ordered the army to take military action against Tigray region, accusing its fighters of attacking federal troops stationed in the region.
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Ethiopia’s federal army is reportedly mobilizing troops to continue its offensive in the northern Tigray region.
The army’s deputy chief of staff, Gen Berhanu Jula, revealed that the troops were heading north to provide support to the Northern Command headquarters that was attacked by forces loyal to the regional government.
Debretsion Gebremicheal, head of the Tigrayan state – and its ruling party the TPLF – said the region’s troops seized “almost all” of the weapons at the command.
He said the state’s forces were also engaged “in war” along Tigray’s borders with neighbouring state of Amhara.
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Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Thursday spoke on the phone with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed.
Source: Africafeeds.com with BBC
